Part 247

Cip"o*lin (?), n. [It. cippollino, prop., a little onion, fr. cipolla onion (cf. E. cibol). So called because its veins consist, like onions, of different strata, one lying upon another.] (Min.) A whitish marble, from Rome, containiing pale greenish zones. It consists of calcium carbonate, with zones and cloudings of talc.

||Cip"pus (?), n.; pl. Cippi (#). [L., stake, post.] A small, low pillar, square or round, commonly having an inscription, used by the ancients for various purposes, as for indicating the distances of places, for a landmark, for sepulchral inscriptions, etc. Gwilt.

Circ (?), n. [See Circus.] An amphitheatrical circle for sports; a circus. [R.] T. Warton.

||Cir*car" (?), n. [See Sircar.] A district, or part of a province. See Sircar. [India]

Cir*cas"sian (?), a. Of or pertaining to Circassia, in Asia. -- n. A native or inhabitant of Circassia.

Cir*ce"an (?), a. [L. Circaeus.] Having the characteristics of Circe, daughter of Sol and Perseis, a mythological enchantress, who first charmed her victims and then changed them to the forms of beasts; pleasing, but noxious; as, a Circean draught.

{ Cir*cen"sial (?), Cir*cen"sian (?), } a. [L. Circensis, ludi Circenses, the games in the Circus Maximus.] Of or pertaining to, or held in, the Circus, In Rome.

The pleasure of the Circensian shows. Holyday.

Cir"ci*nal (?), a. [Gr. &?; a circle.] (Bot.) Circinate.

Cir"ci*nate (?), a. [L. circinatus, p. p. of circinare to make round, fr. circinus a pair of compasses, from Gr. &?; a circle.] (Bot.) Rolled together downward, the tip occupying the center; -- a term used in reference to foliation or leafing, as in ferns. Gray.

Cir"ci*nate (?), v. t. To make a circle around; to encompass. [Obs.] Bailey.

Cir`ci*na"tion (?), n. [L. circinatio circle.]

1. An orbicular motion. [Obs.] bailey.

2. A circle; a concentric layer. [Obs.] "The circinations and spherical rounds of onions." Sir T. Browne.

Cir"cle (s&etilde;r"k'l), n. [OE. cercle, F. cercle, fr. L. circulus (Whence also AS. circul), dim. of circus circle, akin to Gr. kri`kos, ki`rkos, circle, ring. Cf. Circus, Circum-.]

1. A plane figure, bounded by a single curve line called its circumference, every part of which is equally distant from a point within it, called the center.

2. The line that bounds such a figure; a circumference; a ring.

3. (Astron.) An instrument of observation, the graduated limb of which consists of an entire circle.

&fist; When it is fixed to a wall in an observatory, it is called a mural circle; when mounted with a telescope on an axis and in Y's, in the plane of the meridian, a meridian or transit circle; when involving the principle of reflection, like the sextant, a reflecting circle; and when that of repeating an angle several times continuously along the graduated limb, a repeating circle.

4. A round body; a sphere; an orb.

It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth. Is. xi. 22.

5. Compass; circuit; inclosure.

In the circle of this forest. Shak.

6. A company assembled, or conceived to assemble, about a central point of interest, or bound by a common tie; a class or division of society; a coterie; a set.

As his name gradually became known, the circle of his acquaintance widened. Macaulay.

7. A circular group of persons; a ring.

8. A series ending where it begins, and repeating itself.

Thus in a circle runs the peasant's pain. Dryden.