circonstance French · revision 17633

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1220, Queste del Saint Graal|origins=la circumstō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /siʁ.kɔ̃s.tɑ̃s/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''circonstance''' ''f'' (plural circonstances)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|circumstantia|t=a standing around; situation, circumstances]], the neuter plural of the present participle of [[m|la|circumstō|t=to stand around]], taken as a feminine.^(DHLF 1992)^(TLFi)^(Grand Robert 2005) The Latin verb is formed from [[m|la|circum|t=around]] and [[m|la|stō|t=to stand]].^(DHLF 1992)^(Littré 1873) Wiktionary describes the Old French word as a semi-learned borrowing.^(Wiktionary) Cognate with [[pro|circumstancia]], [[es|circunstancia]] and [[it|circostanza]].^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ In the ''Queste del Saint Graal'' (about 1220) it means what is around something.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The concrete sense survived in the legal phrase ''circonstances et dépendances'' (1345), the outbuildings of a main dwelling, and went out of use in the 16th century.^(DHLF 1992)^(TLFi) From about 1265 (Brunetto Latini) the word took its figurative sense, a detail that accompanies an event, often in the plural, especially in law, as in Beaumanoir's ''circonstances du fet'' and later ''circonstances atténuantes''.^(DHLF 1992)^(TLFi)^(Littré 1873)

+

+ Stressing the fit between a fact and a moment, it came to mean an occasion or conjuncture (Molière, 1668), now the most usual sense, whence ''de circonstance'', suited to a particular occasion (1809).^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989) Derivatives are [[circonstancier]] (15th century) and [[circonstanciel]] (1747).^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1220 – “What surrounds”, in the ''Queste del Saint Graal''.^(TLFi)

+ * c. 1265 – Brunetto Latini: a detail accompanying an event.^(TLFi)^(GLLF 1989)

+ * 1345 – ''Circonstances et dépendances''.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1668 – Molière: “occasion”.^(GLLF 1989)^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1747 – ''Circonstanciel''.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+ * 1809 – ''De circonstance''.^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A detail or fact accompanying an event or situation; a [[m|en|circumstance]]: ''les circonstances d'un accident''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(law)'' ''Circonstances atténuantes, aggravantes'': [[m|en|mitigating]] or aggravating circumstances.^(DHLF 1992)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # ''Les circonstances'': the situation, the state of affairs at a given moment.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # An occasion, a [[m|en|juncture]]: ''en pareille circonstance''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(DHLF 1992)

+ # ''De circonstance'': suited to the occasion.^(GLLF 1989)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[circonstanciel]]

+ * [[circonstancier]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[la|circumstantia]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}