circumstantia

A New Latin Dictionary by Charlton T. Lewis Ph.D. and Charles Short, LL. D.

circumstantĭa, ae, f. [circumsto] (post-Aug. and rare).

I A standing round , a surrounding : hostium, Gell. 3, 7, 5: aquae, aëris, Sen. Q. N. 2, 7, 2 (as transl. of the Gr. ἀντιπερίστασις).—*

B Concr., a surrounding circle , a band , troop : angelorum, Tert. Or. 3.—

II Trop., the state , condition , circumstances , attribute , quality : rerum negotiorumque, Gell. 14, 1, 15; 14, 2, 2; Tert. Bapt. 17: hoc genus argumentorum sane dicamus ex circumstantiā, quia περίστασιν dicere aliter non possumus, * Quint. 5, 10, 104.