circum-scrībo, psi, ptum, 3, v. a.
I Prop., to draw a line around , to circumscribe , enclose in a circle (in good prose; very freq. in Cic.): orbem, Cic. Fin. 5, 8, 23: lineas extremas umbrae, Quint. 10, 2, 7: virgulā stantem, Cic. Phil. 8, 8, 23: virgā regem, Liv. 45, 12, 5: aeneā fibulā pars auriculae latissima circumscribitur, Col. 6, 5, 4: terram surculo heliotropii, Plin. 22, 21, 29, § 60.—
II Trop.
A To draw a line as the circumference of a thing (cf. Quint. 12, 10, 5), i. e. to define , encompass , enclose , lim it , bound , circumscribe (syn.: definio, describo, termino): nullis ut terminis (orator) circumscribat aut definiat jus suum, Cic. de Or. 1, 16, 70; cf.: genus universum brevi circumscribi et definiri potest, id. Sest. 45, 97: exiguum nobis vitae curriculum natura circumscripsit, immensum gloriae, id. Rab. Perd. 10, 30: quibus regionibus vitae spatium circumscriptum est, id. Arch. 11, 29: ante enim circumscribitur mente sententia confestimque verba concurrunt, id. Or. 59, 200: locum habitandi alicui, id. Par. 2, 18: Oceanus undique circumscribit omnes terras et ambit, Gell. 12, 13, 20: uti mihi dicas et quasi circumscribas verbis, quid homo sit, id. 4, 1, 12.—
B To bring within narrow bounds, i. e. to contract , hem in , circumscribe , to hinder free action , to restrain , confine , limit , etc. (syn.: claudo, includo, coërceo).
α Esp., of the restrictions or hinderances imposed by one magistracy or authority upon another: Senatus credo praetorem eum circumscripsisset, Cic. Mil. 33, 88 (cf. just before: an consules in praetore coërcendo fortes fuissent), id. Att. 7, 9, 2; id. Phil. 13, 9, 19; Caes. B. C. 1, 32; Auct. ap. Quint. 9, 3, 72: ille se fluvio Rubicone et CC. milibus circumscriptum esse patiatur? Cic. Phil. 6, 3, 5: gulam et ventrem, Sen. Ep. 108, 14: circumscribere corpus et animo locum laxare, id. ib. 15, 2: laudes, id. Cons. ad Helv. 19, 7.—
β In gen.: uno genere genus hoc aratorum, to comprehend in one class , Cic. Verr. 2, 2, 61, § 149 Zumpt: totum Dionysium sex epitomis circumscripsit, abridged , Col. 1, 1, 10: ut luxuriam vilitate circumscribamus, Plin. 22, 2, 3, § 4.—
2 In later medic. lang. circumscribi = minui, to abate , subside : gravedo circumscribitur, Cael. Aur. Tard. 5, 10; so id. Acut. 2, 10 fin. —
C To encircle or go around by writing = scribendo circumdare, i. e. to deceive , cheat , circumvent , entrap , insnare (syn.: circumvenio, decipio): fallacibus et captiosis interrogationibus circumscripti atque decepti, Cic. Ac. 2 ( Luc. ), 15, 46; Plin. 7, 40, 41, § 131; 33, 3, 14, § 48: non circumscribetur, qui ita se gesserit, ut dicat, etc., will not be deceived , i. e. will commit no error , Sen. Q. N. 5, 1, 3; id. Ep. 82, 19.—
2 In mercantile lang., to deprive of money , to overreach , defraud : adulescentulos, Cic. Phil. 14, 3, 7; Juv. 10, 222; 14, 237: ab Roscio HS. IↃↃↃ. circumscriptus, Cic. Rosc. Com. 8, 24: vectigalia, to embezzle , Quint. Decl. 340.—
3 In law, to defeat the purpose of a law , a will , etc., by a forced or too literal interpretation: legem, Dig. 4, 3, 18 fin. : ita circumscripto testamento, Plin. Ep. 8, 18, 4; Front. Aquaed. 112: constitutiones, Lact. de Ira Dei, 8.—
4 Of circumlocution, to involve in language: oratio rem simplicem circumscribens elocutione, Auct. Her. 4, 32, 43; cf.: facetis jocis sacrilegium circumscribens, covering , Just. 39, 2, 5.—
D To cancel; to declare invalid , to annul , invalidate , void , set aside (cf. circumduco, II. D.): hoc omni tempore Sullano ex accusatione circumscripto, Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 16, § 43 (sublato, circumducto, praetermisso, Ascon.): circumscriptis igitur iis seutentiis, quas posui, etc., id. Fin. 3, 9, 31.
XIII —Hence, circumscriptus , a, um, P. a.
1 (Acc. to II. A.) In rhet., rounded into periods , periodic : circumscripti verborum ambitus, Cic. Or. 12, 38; cf. Auct. Her. 4, 32, 43; Quint. 12, 10, 5, and v. circumscriptio.—Adv.: circum-scriptē , in periods : circumscripte numeroseque dicere, Cic. Or. 66, 221: circumscripte complecti singulas res. id. N. D. 2, 59, 147.—
2 (Acc. to II. B.) Restricted , limited : brevis et circumscripta quaedam explicatio, Cic. de Or. 1, 42, 189: (vis orationis) pressior et circumscriptior et adductior, Plin. Ep. 1, 16, 4.—Adv.: circum-scriptē , summarily : circumscripte et breviter ostendere, Lact. 5, 14, 8; 5, 9, 20. — Sup. of the adj., and comp. and sup. of the adv. not in use.