See Also: circumstance(dictionary)
circumstance(dictionary)
extenuating circumstance(encyclopedia)

circumstance (oh)



[Date: 1100-1200; Language: Old French; Origin: Latin circumstantia, from circumstare 'to stand around', from circum- ( CIRCUM-) + stare 'to stand']
[C usually plural] the conditions that affect a situation, action, event etc
::The Soviet Union had been forced by circumstances to sign a pact with Nazi Germany.
::I can't imagine a circumstance in which I would be willing to steal.
in ... circumstances
::The rules can only be waived in exceptional circumstances.
under ... circumstances
::Prisoners can only leave their cells under certain circumstances (=if particular conditions exist) .
::He was found dead in suspicious circumstances (=in a way that makes you think something illegal or dishonest has happened) .
::Unless there are extenuating circumstances , all students must be present on the day of the exam (=reasons which make you feel that it was reasonable for someone to break the usual rules) .
under no circumstances
also in no circumstances BrE used to emphasize that something must definitely not happen
::Under no circumstances are you to leave the house.
under/given the circumstances
also in the circumstances BrE used to say that a particular situation makes an action, decision etc necessary, acceptable, or true when it would not normally be
::It's the best result that could be expected under the circumstances.
[U] formal the combination of facts, events etc that influence your life, and that you cannot control
::He was a victim of circumstance .
circumstances [plural] formal the conditions in which you live, especially how much money you have
economic/financial/personal etc circumstances
::Whether or not you qualify for a loan will depend on your financial circumstances.
::people living in difficult social circumstances
in reduced circumstances old-fashioned (=with much less money than you used to have)
-see also pomp and circumstance at pomp