Adjacent Words

Circumscribe definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

CIRCUMSCRIBE, v.t.
1. To inclose within a certain limit; to limit, bound, confine.
You are above the little forms which circumscribe your sex.
2. To write round.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

v
1: draw a line around; "He drew a circle around the points"
2: restrict or confine, "I limit you to two visits to the pub a day" [syn: limit, circumscribe, confine]
3: to draw a geometric figure around another figure so that the two are in contact but do not intersect

Merriam Webster's

transitive verb Etymology: Middle English circumscriven, from Latin circumscribere, from circum- + scribere to write, draw — more at scribe Date: 14th century 1. a. to constrict the range or activity of definitely and clearly <his role was carefully circumscribed> b. to define or mark off carefully <a study of plant species in a circumscribed area> 2. a. to draw a line around b. to surround by or as if by a boundary <fields circumscribed by tall trees> 3. to construct or be constructed around (a geometrical figure) so as to touch as many points as possible Synonyms: see limit

Oxford Reference Dictionary

v.tr. 1 (of a line etc.) enclose or outline. 2 lay down the limits of; confine, restrict. 3 Geom. draw (a figure) round another, touching it at points but not cutting it (cf. INSCRIBE). Derivatives: circumscribable adj. circumscriber n. circumscription n. Etymology: L circumscribere (as CIRCUM-, scribere script- write)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Circumscribe Cir`cum*scribe", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Circumscribed; p. pr. & vb. n. Circumscribing.] [L. circumscribere, -scriptum; circum + scribere to write, draw. See Soribe.] 1. to write or engrave around. [R.] Thereon is circumscribed this epitaph. --Ashmole. 2. To inclose within a certain limit; to hem in; to surround; to bound; to confine; to restrain. To circumscribe royal power. --Bancroft. 3. (Geom.) To draw a line around so as to touch at certain points without cutting. See Inscribe, 5. Syn: To bound; limit; restrict; confine; abridge; restrain; environ; encircle; inclose; encompass.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(circumscribes, circumscribing, circumscribed) If someone's power or freedom is circumscribed, it is limited or restricted. (FORMAL) The army evidently fears that, under him, its activities would be severely circumscribed... There are laws circumscribing the right of individual citizens to cause bodily harm to others. = limit VERB: be V-ed, V n

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

v. a. 1. Bound, encircle, surround, enclose. 2. Confine, restrict, limit, keep within bounds.

Moby Thesaurus

abate, abbreviate, adjust to, alter, assuage, bar, bound, box, box in, box up, circle in, coarct, compact, compress, concentrate, condense, condition, confine, consolidate, constrict, constringe, contract, cramp, curtail, decrease, define, delimit, delimitate, demarcate, determine, diminish, divide, draw, draw in, draw together, enclose, fetter, fix, hamper, hedge, hedge about, hem, hem in, keep from spreading, keep within bounds, knit, lay off, leaven, limit, localize, mark boundaries, mark off, mark out, mark the periphery, mitigate, moderate, modify, modulate, narrow, palliate, pucker, pucker up, purse, qualify, reduce, regulate by, restrain, restrict, rope off, season, separate, set conditions, set limits, set the limit, shorten, soften, solidify, specify, stake out, stint, strangle, strangulate, surround, temper, tighten, trammel, wrinkle