Etymology of the English word circumstance
the English word
circumstancederived from the Old French word
circonstancederived from the Latin word
circumstantia (encircling position, troop; closing of fluid round passing object)
derived from the Latin word
circumstans (by-stander)
derived from the Latin word
circumstare (stand, gather, crowd around)
derived from the Latin word
stare (to stand; stand, stand still, stand firm)
derived from the Proto-Indo-European root
*stā-using the Late Latin prefix
circum-derived from the Latin word
circus (race course; circus in Rome, celebration of games)
derived from the Greek word
kirkosderived from the Proto-Indo-European root
*kirk-derived from the Proto-Indo-European root
*sker- (to turn, bend)
Date
The earliest known usage of circumstance in English dates from the 13th century.
Derivations in English
circumstancedUsage
Word found in Modern English
