Part 1947

<p><b>1.</b> <def>Consisting in, or pertaining to, circumstances or particular incidents.</def>

<blockquote>The usual character of human testimony is substantial truth under <b>circumstantial</b> variety. <i>Paley.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Incidental; relating to, but not essential.</def>

<blockquote>We must therefore distinguish between the essentials in religious worship . . . and what is merely <b>circumstantial</b>. <i>Sharp.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>Abounding with circumstances; detailing or exhibiting all the circumstances; minute; particular.</def>

<blockquote>Tedious and <b>circumstantial</b> recitals. <i>Prior.</i></blockquote>

<cs><col>Circumstantial evidence</col> <fld>(Law)</fld>, <cd>evidence obtained from circumstances, which necessarily or usually attend facts of a particular nature, from which arises presumption. According to some authorities <i>circumstantial<i> is distinguished from <i>positive<i> evidence in that the latter is the testimony of eyewitnesses to a fact or the admission of a party; but the prevalent opinion now is that all such testimony is dependent on circumstances for its support. All testimony is more or less <i>circumstantial<i>. <i>Wharton<i>.</cd></cs>

<syn>Syn. -- See <er>Minute</er>.</syn>

<h1>Circumstantial</h1> <Xpage=259>

<hw>Cir`cum*stan"tial</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>Something incidental to the main subject, but of less importance; opposed to an <i>essential</i>; -- generally in the plural; <as>as, the <ex>circumstantials</ex> of religion</as>.</def>

<i>Addison.</i>

<h1>Circumstantiality</h1> <Xpage=259>

<hw>Cir`cum*stan`ti*al"i*ty</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>The state, characteristic, or quality of being circumstantial; particularity or minuteness of detail.</def> "I will endeavor to describe with sufficient <i>circumstantiality</i>."

<i>De Quincey.</i>

<h1>Circumstantially</h1> <Xpage=259>

<hw>Cir`cum*stan"tial*ly</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>adv.</tt> <p><b>1.</b> <def>In respect to circumstances; not essentially; accidentally.</def>

<blockquote>Of the fancy and intellect, the powers are only <b>circumstantially</b> different. <i>Glanvill.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>In every circumstance or particular; minutely.</def>

<blockquote>To set down somewhat <b>circumstantially</b>, not only the events, but the manner of my trials. <i>Boyle.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Circumstantiate</h1> <Xpage=259>

<hw>Cir`cum*stan"ti*ate</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p. p.</tt> <er>Circumstantiated</er> <tt>(?)</tt>; <tt>p. pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Circumstantiating</er> <tt>(?)</tt>.]</wordforms> <ety>[See <er>Circumstantiating</er> (<?/).]</ety>

<p><b>1.</b> <def>To place in particular circumstances; to invest with particular accidents or adjuncts.</def> <mark>[R.]</mark>

<blockquote>If the act were otherwise <b>circumstantiated</b>, it might will that freely which now it wills reluctantly. <i>Bramhall.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To prove or confirm by circumstances; to entr into details concerning.</def>

<blockquote>Neither will time permint to <b>circumstantiate</b> these particulars, which I have only touched in the general. <i>State Trials (1661).</i></blockquote>

<h1>Circumterraneous</h1> <Xpage=259>

<hw>Cir`cum*ter*ra"ne*ous</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[Pref. <ets>circum-</ets> + L. <ets>terra</ets> earth.]</ety> <def>Being or dwelling around the earth.</def> "<i>Circumterraneous</i> demouns."

<i>H. Hallywell.</i>