Part 257

I circumvented whom I could not gain. Dryden.

Cir`cum*ven"tion (?), n. [L. circumventio.] The act of prevailing over another by arts, address, or fraud; deception; fraud; imposture; delusion.

A school in which he learns sly circumvention. Cowper.

Cir`cum*vent"ive (?), a. Tending to circumvent; deceiving by artifices; deluding.

Cir`cum*vent"or (?), n. [L.] One who circumvents; one who gains his purpose by cunning.

Cir`cum*vest" (?), v. t. [L. circumvestire; circum + vestire to clothe.] To cover round, as with a garment; to invest. [Obs.]

Circumvested with much prejudice. Sir H. Wotton.

Cir*cum"vo*lant (?), a. [L. circumvolans, p. pr. See Circumvolation.] Flying around.

The circumvolant troubles of humanity. G. Macdonald.

Cir`cum*vo*la"tion (?), n. [L. circumvolate. -volatum, to fly around; circum + volare to fly.] The act of flying round. [R.]

Cir`cum*vo*lu"tion (?), n. [See Circumvolve.]

1. The act of rolling round; the state of being rolled.

2. A thing rolled round another. Arbuthnot.

3. A roundabout procedure; a circumlocution.

He had neither time nor temper for sentimental circumvolutions. Beaconsfield.

Cir`cum*volve" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Circumvolved (?); p. pr. vb. n. Circumvolving.] [L. circumvolvere, -volutum; circum + volvere to roll.] To roll round; to cause to revolve; to put into a circular motion. Herrick.

Cir`cum*volve", v. i. To roll round; to revolve.

Cir"cus (?), n.; pl. Circuses (#). [L. circus circle, ring, circus (in sense 1). See Circle, and cf. Cirque.]

1. (Roman Antiq.) A level oblong space surrounded on three sides by seats of wood, earth, or stone, rising in tiers one above another, and divided lengthwise through the middle by a barrier around which the track or course was laid out. It was used for chariot races, games, and public shows.

&fist; The Circus Maximus at Rome could contain more than 100,000 spectators. Harpers' Latin Dict.

2. A circular inclosure for the exhibition of feats of horsemanship, acrobatic displays, etc. Also, the company of performers, with their equipage.

3. Circuit; space; inclosure. [R.]

The narrow circus of my dungeon wall. Byron.

Cirl" bun`ting (?). [Cf. It. cirlo.] (Zo÷l.) A European bunting (Emberiza cirlus).

Cirque (?), n. [F., fr. L. circus.]

1. A circle; a circus; a circular erection or arrangement of objects.

A dismal cirque Of Druid stones upon a forlorn moor. Keats.

2. A kind of circular valley in the side of a mountain, walled around by precipices of great height.