circumscribo Latin · revision 32209

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=81–43 BC, Cicero|origins=ine-pro *skreibʰ-e/o-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [kɪr.kũːˈskriː.boː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [t͡ʃir.kumˈskriː.bo]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''circumscrībō''' (present infinitive circumscrībere, perfect active circumscrīpsī, supine circumscrīptum); third conjugation^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|circum-|scrībō|t1=around|t2=to write, draw]].^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan traces [[m|la|scrībō]] to [[itc-pro|*skreif-e/o-|t=to carve]] and [[ine-pro|*skreibʰ-e/o-|t=to carve]].^(de Vaan 2008) Cognate with [[osc|scriftas|t=written]] and [[lv|skrīpât|t=to scratch, scribble]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Lewis & Short note that it is very frequent in Cicero;^(Lewis & Short 1879) in the ''Philippics'' he tells how Popilius drew a circle with a rod round King Antiochus as he stood.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It means to draw a line or circle round something, and so to confine within limits, as Cicero asks whether someone would put up with being shut in by the Rubicon, and to restrict the scope of a skill; nature, he writes, has bounded our life in a short course, but glory in an immense one.^(OLD 2012) It is also to define or outline in words, to exclude from consideration, and to restrain the emotions, as Seneca's anger, or to abridge, as Columella's six-book epitome of Dionysius.^(OLD 2012) Cicero uses it of restricting a magistrate's powers.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ From hemming in it came to mean to impose on or cheat, as Cicero's men deceived by captious questions, to defraud of money, and in Frontinus to circumvent a law.^(OLD 2012) Church Latin glosses it to circumscribe, outline boundaries.^(Stelten 1995) English ''circumscribe'' dates from the late 14th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of Popilius' circle and of cheating by captious questions.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca of restraining anger.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1st century AD – Columella of abridging a work.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * late 14th century – Borrowed into English as [[m|en|circumscribe]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To draw a line or circle round; to draw in the form of a circle.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To confine within limits; to restrict; to mark the bounds of in time.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To define or outline; to exclude.^(OLD 2012)

+ # To restrain emotions; to [[m|en|abridge]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # To restrict the powers of a magistrate.^(OLD 2012)

+ # To [[m|en|cheat]], defraud; to circumvent a law.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[circumscrīptiō]]

+ * [[circumscriptor]]

+ * [[incircumscriptus]]

+ * [[praecircumscrībō]]

+ * [[circumscrīptē]]

+ * [[circumscrīptus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[scribo|alt=scrībō]]

+ * [[en|circumscribe]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}