circumstance

Pluralcircumstances

1. 1
   related factnouncountable

   A fact or event that is part of a situation or changes what happens.

   Like one piece of a puzzle that helps explain the whole picture.

   We changed our plans because of one small circumstance we hadn't expected.

   Many circumstances shaped how the meeting finally turned out.

   UsageUsually plural: in these circumstances, under no circumstances (never).

   Note
2. 2
   money situationnounusually plural

   The state of someone's money, property, and living conditions.

   When her dad found steady work, the family's circumstances got better.

   The free clinic helps people of every circumstance, rich or poor.

   UsageUsually plural, often with a word like poor or comfortable: in poor circumstances.

   Similarsituation, means, position, status, station

   Note
3. 3
   roundabout talknounarchaicuncountable

   Roundabout or indirect speech that avoids getting straight to the point.

   But he (as louing his owne pride, and purpoſes) / Euades them, with a bumbaſt Circumſtance, / Horribly ſtufft with Epithites of warre,

   c. 1603, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Othello, the Moore of Venice”Here, circumstance means wordy talk that avoids answering directly.

   Old Ger. You put vs to a needeleſſe labour ſir, / To runne and winde about for circumſtance, / When the plaine word, I thanke you, would have ſeru'd.

   1614, John Cooke, Greene's Tu Quoque

   Note

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