circumvolve

English

Etymology

From Latin circumvolvere.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˌsɜː.kəmˈvɒlv/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˌsɝ.kəmˈvɑlv/
• Rhymes: -ɒlv

Verb

circumvolve (third-person singular simple present circumvolves, present participle circumvolving, simple past and past participle circumvolved)

1. (transitive) To cause (something) to revolve or roll around; to put (something) into a circular motion.
   • 1647, Rob[ert] Herrick, “Upon Master Fletchers Incomparable Playes”, in Francis Beaumont, John Fletcher [et al.], Comedies and Tragedies […], London: […] Humphrey Robinson, […], and for Humphrey Moseley […], →OCLC:

     [W]hen 'ere vvee circumvolve our Eyes, / Such rich, ſuch freſh, ſuch ſvveet varietyes, / Raviſh our ſpirits, that entranc't vvee ſee / None vvrites lov's paſſion in the vvorld, like Thee.

2. (intransitive) To move or revolve around something.
   • 1789, [Erasmus Darwin], “Canto II”, in The Botanic Garden; a Poem, in Two Parts. […], London: J[oseph] Johnson, […], published 1791, →OCLC, part II (The Loves of the Plants; 3rd edition), pages 61–62, lines 283–288:

     Firſt vvith nice eye emerging Naiads cull / From leathery pods the vegetable vvool [cotton]; / VVith vviry teeth revolving cards releaſe / The tangled knots, and ſmooth the ravell'd fleece; / […] / Then fly the ſpoles, the rapid axles glovv, / And ſlovvly circumvolves the labouring vvheel belovv.

   • 1820, Sophocles, “Œdipus Tyrannus; or, Swellfoot the Tyrant. A Tragedy, in Two Acts. […]”, in Percy Bysshe Shelley, transl., edited by [Mary] Shelley, The Poetical Works of Percy Bysshe Shelley. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to IV), London: Edward Moxon […], published 1839, →OCLC, [https:// page 188], column 1:

     The oracle is now about to be / Fulfilled by circumvolving destiny; / Which says: "Thebes, choose reform or civil war, / When through your streets, instead of hare with dogs, / A Consort Queen shall hunt a King with hogs, / Riding upon the Ionian Minotaur."

Further reading

• “circumvolve”, in Dictionary.com Unabridged, Dictionary.com, LLC, 1995–present.

Latin

Verb

circumvolve

1. second-person singular present active imperative of circumvolvō