circumstance

[sur-kuh m-stans or, esp. British, -stuh ns] /ˈsɜr kəmˌstæns or, esp. British, -stəns/
noun
1.
a condition, detail, part, or attribute, with respect to time, place, manner,agent, etc., that accompanies, determines, or modifies a fact or event; a modifying or influencing factor:
Do not judge his behavior without considering every circumstance.
2.
Usually, circumstances. the existing conditions or state of affairs surrounding and affecting an agent:
Circumstances permitting, we sail on Monday.
3.
an unessential or secondary accompaniment of any fact or event; minor detail:
The author dwells on circumstances rather than essentials.
4.
circumstances, the condition or state of a person with respect to income and material welfare:
a family in reduced circumstances.
5.
an incident or occurrence:
His arrival was a fortunate circumstance.
6.
detailed or circuitous narration; specification of particulars:
The speaker expatiated with great circumstance upon his theme.
7.
Archaic. ceremonious accompaniment or display:
pomp and circumstance.
verb (used with object), circumstanced, circumstancing.
8.
to place in particular circumstances or relations:
The company was favorably circumstanced by the rise in tariffs.
9.
Obsolete.
  1. to furnish with details.
  2. to control or guide by circumstances.
Idioms
10.
under no circumstances, regardless of events or conditions; never:
Under no circumstances should you see them again.
11.
under the circumstances, because of the conditions; as the case stands:
Under the circumstances, there is little hope for an early settlement.
Also, in the circumstances.
Origin
1175-1225; Middle English < Latin circumstantia (circumstant-, stem of circumstāns, present participle of circumstāre to stand round), equivalent to circum- circum- + stā- stand + -nt present participle suffix + -ia noun suffix; see -ance
Synonyms
7. ritual, formality, splendor.
British Dictionary definitions for in the circumstances

circumstance

/ˈsɜːkəmstəns/
noun
1.
(usually pl) a condition of time, place, etc, that accompanies or influences an event or condition
2.
an incident or occurrence, esp a chance one
3.
accessory information or detail
4.
formal display or ceremony (archaic except in the phrase pomp and circumstance)
5.
under no circumstances, in no circumstances, in no case; never
6.
under the circumstances, because of conditions; this being the case
7.
in bad circumstances, (of a person) in a bad financial situation
8.
in good circumstances, (of a person) in a good financial situation
verb (transitive)
9.
to place in a particular condition or situation
10.
(obsolete) to give in detail
Word Origin
C13: from Old French circonstance, from Latin circumstantia, from circumstāre to stand around, from circum- + stāre to stand
Word Origin and History for in the circumstances

circumstance

n.

early 13c., "conditions surrounding and accompanying an event," from Old French circonstance "circumstance, situation," also literally, "outskirts" (13c., Modern French circonstance), from Latin circumstantia "surrounding condition," neuter plural of circumstans (genitive circumstantis), present participle of circumstare "stand around, surround, encompass, occupy, take possession of" from circum "around" (see circum-) + stare "to stand" from PIE root *sta- "to stand" (see stet). The Latin word is a loan-translation of Greek peristasis.

Meaning "a person's surroundings, environment" is from mid-14c. Meaning "a detail" is from c.1300; sense of "that which is non-essential" is from 1590s. Obsolete sense of "formality about an important event" (late 14c.) lingers in Shakespeare's phrase pomp and circumstance ("Othello" III, iii).

Idioms and Phrases with in the circumstances

in the circumstances

see: under the circumstances

circumstance

see: