DIMENSIONS: CONTEXT / Relationship
R  E  F  E  R  E  N  C  E  S 
Circumstance  n. 1. a condition or attribute that accompanies, determines, or modifies a fact or event; a modifying or influencing factor.  2. Usually circumstances. the existing conditions or state of affairs surroundng and affecting an agent: Circumstances permitting, we sail on Monday. 3. an unessential accompaniment;  minor detail.  4. circumstances, the condition or state of a person with respect to material welfare: a family in reduced circumstances.  5. an incident or occurrence: His arrival was a fortunate circumstance.  6. detailed or circuitous narration.  7. ceremonious accompaniment or display: pomp and circumstance.  8. under no circumstances, regardless of events or conditons: never: Under no circumstances should you see them again.  9. under the circumstances, because of the conditions; as the case stands: Under the circumstances, we are suspending operations.   Also. in the circumstances.  -v.t. 10. to place in particular circumstances or relations.  11. Obs. a. to furnish with details.  b. to control or guide by circumstances.  [ME <  L circumstantia (circumstant-, s. of circumstãns, prp. of circumstãre to stand round) = circum- CIRCUM- + stã- stand + -ni-  prp. suffix + -ia n. suffix]
[Urdang, Laurence, ed.  Random House Dictionary of The English Language.  New York: Random House, 1968.]
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