Webster's English Dictionary

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circumstance

Cross references:
  1. occurrence            
 
cir.cum.stance \'s*r-k*m-.stan(t)s, -st*n(t)s\ n [ME, fr. MF, fr. L 
   circumstantia, fr. circumstant-, circumstans)X, prp. of circumstare to 
   stand around, fr. circum- + stare to stand 1a: a condition, fact, or event 
   accompanying, conditioning, or determining  another 1b: an accessory 
   condition  pl  2: the sum of essential and environmental factors; esp : 
   situation  with regard to wealth 3: CEREMONY  4a: accompanying incident : 
   DETAIL  4b: HAPPENING, FACT  5: CHANCE, FATE