| 释义 |
cir·cum·stance
\ˈsərkəmzˌtan(t)s, ˈsə̄k-, ˈsəik-, -mˌst-, -taa(ə)n-, -tain- Brit usually & US also -_tən- or -_stən-; sometimes -ˌtȧn- or -ˌstȧn-\ noun
(-s)
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin circumstantia, from circumstant-, circumstans, present participle of circumstare to stand around, from circum- + stare to stand — more at stand
1.
a. : a specific part, phase, or attribute of the surroundings or background of an event, fact, or thing or of the prevailing conditions in which it exists or takes place : a condition, fact, or event accompanying, conditioning, or determining another : an adjunct or concomitant that is present or logically likely to be present
< it was late but he overlooked that circumstance >
< the time, place, and other circumstances of an action >
< the circumstance that the man was happy raised the presumption that he was prosperous enough >
< every circumstance of calculated and characteristic … treachery — Sir Winston Churchill >
b. : a subordinate detail : an adventitious nonessential fact or detail
< the gist of the matter, not the circumstances >
2.
a. : the total complex of essential attributes and attendant adjuncts of a fact or action : the sum of essential and environmental characteristics : arrangement, situation, composition, or nature of an event or thing — usually used in singular without the indefinite article and rarely with the definite article
< constant and rapid change in economic circumstance, social custom, and intellectual atmosphere — G.M.Trevelyan >
b. : occurrence, eventuality
< the unofficial minority voted solidly against a government measure — a rare circumstance — W.T.Stace >
c. : an evidential condition on the basis of which an event (as a crime) may be inferred or an accusation made probable or improbable
< the circumstances of the case indicate murder >
< the circumstances tell against the accused >
d. : surroundings or situation as regards wealth, property, assured income — usually used in plural
< a bachelor in easy circumstances with a large inheritance to draw on >
e. obsolete : a likely appurtenance : a characteristic property
3. : formalities and ritualistic display especially as contrasted with essential procedure : attendant ceremonial
< pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious war — Shakespeare >
< with appropriate ducal and episcopal circumstance — Francis Hackett >
4. in a narrative : circumstantial detail
< stress circumstance rather than action in a novel >
5. : an occurrence or fact viewed as a detail in a larger continuum
< the conqueror weeping for new worlds or the like circumstances in history — Joseph Addison >
6. : chance, fate
< a training in self-reliance, endurance, and indifference to circumstance — Geographical Review >
< a mere victim of circumstance — Fritz Stern >
Synonyms: see occurrence
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- in the circumstances
- not a circumstance to
- under no circumstances |