Part 254

Cir`cum*nav"i*gate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Circumnavigated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Circumnavigating (?).] [L. circumnavigatus, p. p. of circumnavigare to sail round; circum + navigare to navigate.] To sail completely round.

Having circumnavigated the whole earth. T. Fuller.

Cir`cum*nav`i*ga"tion (?), n. The act of circumnavigating, or sailing round. Arbuthnot.

Cir`cum*nav"iga`tor (?), n. One who sails round. W. Guthrie.

Cir`cum*nu"tate (?), v. i. [Pref. circum- + nutate.] To pass through the stages of circumnutation.

Cir`cum*nu*ta"tion (?), n. (Bot.) The successive bowing or bending in different directions of the growing tip of the stems of many plants, especially seen in climbing plants.

Cir`cum*po"lar (?), a. [Pref. circum- + polar.] About the pole; -- applied to stars that revolve around the pole without setting; as, circumpolar stars.

Cir`cum*po*si"tion (?), n. [L. circumpositio, fr. circumponere, - positium, to place around.] The act of placing in a circle, or round about, or the state of being so placed. Evelyn.

{ Cir`cum*ro"tary (?), Cir`cum*ro"ta*to*ry (?), } a. [Pref. circum- + rotary, rotatory.] turning, rolling, or whirling round.

Cir`cum*ro"tate (?), v. t. & i. [L. circumrotare; circum + rotare to turn round.] To rotate about. [R.]

Cir`cum*ro*ta"tion (?), n. The act of rolling or revolving round, as a wheel; circumvolution; the state of being whirled round. J. Gregory.

Cir`cum*scis"sile (?), a. [Pref. circum- + scissle.] (Bot.) Dehiscing or opening by a transverse fissure extending around (a capsule or pod). See Illust. of Pyxidium.

Cir`cum*scrib"a*ble (?), a. Capable of being circumscribed.

Cir`cum*scribe" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Circumscribed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Circumscribing.] [L. circumscribere, -scriptum; circum + scribere to write, draw. See Soribe.]

1. to write or engrave around. [R.]

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.