Thereon is circumscribed this epitaph.
Ashmole.
2. To inclose within a certain limit; to hem in; to surround; to bound; to confine; to restrain.
To circumscribe royal power.
Bancroft.
3. (Geom.) To draw a line around so as to touch at certain points without cutting. See Inscribe, 5.
Syn. -- To bound; limit; restrict; confine; abridge; restrain; environ; encircle; inclose; encompass.
Cir`cum*scrib"er (?), n. One who, or that which, circumscribes.
Cir`cum*scrip"ti*ble (?), a. Capable of being circumscribed or limited by bounds.
Cir`cum*scrip"tion (?), n. [L. circumscriptio. See Circumscribe.] 1. An inscription written around anything. [R.] Ashmole.
2. The exterior line which determines the form or magnitude of a body; outline; periphery. Ray.
3. The act of limiting, or the state of being limited, by conditions or restraints; bound; confinement; limit.
The circumscriptions of terrestrial nature.
Johnson.
I would not my unhoused, free condition
Put into circumscription and confine.
Shak.
Cir`cum*scrip"tive (?), a. Circumscribing or tending to circumscribe; marcing the limits or form of.
Cir`cum*scrip"tive*ly, adv. In a limited manner.
Cir"cum*script`ly (?), adv. In a literal, limited, or narrow manner. [R.] Milton.
Cir"cum*spect (?), a. [L. circumspectus, p. p. of circumspicere to look about one's self, to observe; circum + spicere, specere, to look. See Spy.] Attentive to all the circumstances of a case or the probable consequences of an action; cautious; prudent; wary.
Syn. -- See Cautious.
Cir`cum*spec"tion (?), n. [L. circumspectio.] Attention to all the facts and circumstances of a case; caution; watchfulness.
With silent circumspection, unespied.
Milton.
Syn. -- Caution; prudence; watchfulness; deliberation; thoughtfulness; wariness; forecast.
Cir`cum*spec"tive (s&etilde;r`kŭm*sp&ebreve;k"t&ibreve;v), a. Looking around every way; cautious; careful of consequences; watchful of danger. "Circumspective eyes." Pope.
Cir`cum*spec"tive*ly, adv. Circumspectly.
Cir"cum*spect"ly (-sp&ebreve;kt"l>ycr/), adv. In a circumspect manner; cautiously; warily.
Cir"cum*spect"ness, n. Vigilance in guarding against evil from every quarter; caution.
[Travel] forces circumspectness on those abroad, who at home are nursed in security.
Sir H. Wotton.
Cir"cum*stance (?), n. [L. circumstantia, fr. circumstans, -antis, p. pr. of circumstare to stand around; circum + stare to stand. See Stand.] 1. That which attends, or relates to, or in some way affects, a fact or event; an attendant thing or state of things.
The circumstances are well known in the country where they happened.
W. Irving.