circumstantial
English
Etymology
From Latin circumstantia + English -al, equivalent to circumstance + -ial.
Pronunciation
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Audio (RP): (file)
Adjective
circumstantial (comparative more circumstantial, superlative most circumstantial)
- Pertaining to or dependent on circumstances, especially as opposed to essentials; incidental, not essential.
- 1754, John Sharp, Sermons:
- We must therefore distinguish between the essentials in religious worship […] and what is merely circumstantial.
- Synonyms: see Thesaurus:circumstantial
- Abounding with minor circumstances; in great detail; particular.
- 1777, Richard Brinsley Sheridan, The School for Scandal, V.ii:
- My Unkle's account is more circumstantial I must confess—but I believe mine is the true one for all that.
- 1806, James Wilkinson, Letter to Thomas Jefferson (October 21, 1806) (part of Burr conspiracy)
- For although my information appears too direct and circumstantial to be fictitious, yet the magnitude of the enterprise, the desperation of the plan, and the stupendous consequences with which it seems pregnant, stagger my belief […]
- 2007, John Burrow, A History of Histories, Penguin 2009, p. 326:
- Second-hand but clearly from the best possible source - the King himself - [the story] is highly circumstantial, taking twenty-two pages of text.
- 1777, Richard Brinsley Sheridan, The School for Scandal, V.ii:
- Full of circumstance or pomp; ceremonial.
- (law) Suggesting guilt, but not proving it conclusively.
- It is unlikely he will be convicted; the evidence against him is circumstantial at best.
Translations
pertaining to circumstances
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abounding with circumstances; minute in details
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full of pomp
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suggesting guilty but not proving it
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Noun
circumstantial (plural circumstantials)
- (chiefly in the plural) Something incidental to the main subject, but of less importance.
- the circumstantials of religion
- Antonym: essential
Translations
something incidental
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Categories:
- English terms derived from Latin
- English terms suffixed with -al
- English terms suffixed with -ial
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