circum-sisto, stĕti (Caes. B. G. 3, 15 Oud. N. cr.; 4, 37; Curt. 15, 9, 10; Verg. A. 2, 559; Tac. A. 15, 15; id. H. 4, 79; cf. circumsto; rarely circumstiti, Tac. H. 3, 31), 3, v. a., to place one’s self or take one’s stand around a person or thing, to surround, go or stand around (class.; most freq. in the histt.; in Cic. perh. only once).
α With acc.: quid me circumsistitis? Plaut. Men. 5, 7, 9; so * Cat. 42, 10; Caes. B. G. 5, 7 fin. ; 7, 5; id. B. C. 1, 20; id. B. G. 4, 26 Oud. N. cr.; Liv. 1, 28, 7; 1, 51, 8; 2, 2, 8; Curt. 7, 5: ipsumque domumque, Verg. A. 8, 490 al.; so, naves, Caes. B. G. 3, 15: curiam, Liv. 2, 23, 11; Tac. A. 5, 4: lectum, id. ib. 14, 8: vias, id. ib. 15, 15: signa sua, id. H. 2, 41.— Pass. : ne ab omnibus civitatibus circumsisteretur (Caesar), Caes. B. G. 7, 43; Ap. Dogm. Plat. 2.—
β Absol. : circumsistamus, Plaut. As. 3, 3, 28: haec cum maxime loqueretur, sex lictores circumsistunt (sc. loquentem), Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 54, § 142: circumstiterant victores, Tac. H. 3, 31: circumsistentia tecta, Jul. Val. Rer. Gest. Alex. 3, 42; cf. also circumsto.