verb transitive intransitive

circumsto

2nd PP circum-stāre · 3rd PP circumstĕti · conj. 1st

(the perf. and

to stand around in a circle; to take a station round;; to stand around a person

pluperf. having the same form with those of circumsisto, and a similar meaning, it is sometimes doubtful to which verb a form belongs), to stand around in a circle, to take a station round; and, with the acc., to stand around a person or thing, to surround, encircle, encompass.

(very freq. and class.). literal

Prop. (very freq. and class.).

circumstant cum ardentibus taedis, Enn ap. Cic. Ac. 2, 28, 89 (Trag. v. 51… absol ••

Absol.: circumstant cum ardentibus taedis, Enn ap. Cic. Ac. 2, 28, 89 (Trag. v. 51 Vahl.): circumstant lacrimis rorantes ora genasque, Lucr. 3, 469: Morini spe praedae adducti circumsteterunt, Caes. B. G. 4, 37: circumstant properi aurigae, Verg. A. 12, 85: ad circumstantes tendens sua bracchia silvas, Ov M. 3, 441: circumstantis exercitūs gratia, Curt. 9, 3, 15: amici, id. 3, 5, 9.—

With acc.: aliquem, Verg. G. 4, 216; Ov. M. 11, 505; Curt. 5, 12, 9: equites… with accusative ••

With acc.: aliquem, Verg. G. 4, 216; Ov. M. 11, 505; Curt. 5, 12, 9: equites Romani qui circumstant senatum, Cic. Cat. 1, 8, 21: sellam, Liv. 8, 32, 14; Suet. Aug. 35: solem, Ov. M. 2, 394: sacra, id. ib. 2, 717: lectum, Curt. 10, 5, 2.—

the by-standers

Hence, circumstantes, ĭum, m. subst., the by-standers, Quint. 4, 2, 22; 4, 2, 127; Tac. A. 1, 21; 1, 22; Suet. Caes. 84; id. Aug. 93; Curt. 6, 10, 36.—

to surround in a hostile manner; to beset; besiege in particular ••

In partic., to surround in a hostile manner, to beset, besiege: circumstare tribunal praetoris urbani, obsidere cum gladiis curiam, etc., Cic. Cat. 1, 13, 32: quem tres Curiatii circumsteterant, Liv. 1, 25, 6: si ambo consules infesti circumstarent tribunum, id. 3, 9, 6: urbem Romanam, id. 27, 40, 6: regis tecta, Verg. A. 7, 585; cf. the foll.—

to surround; encompass; occupy figuratively •••

Trop., to surround, encompass, occupy, take possession of (freq. in post-Aug prose); absol. or with acc.: cum dies et noctes omnia nos undique fata circumstent, Cic. Phil. 10, 10, 20: circumstant te summae auctoritates, Cic. Verr. 1, 17, 52: cum tanti undique terrores circumstarent, Liv. 6, 2, 4; cf. id. 30, 3, 3: anceps proelium Romanos circumsteterat, incertos in quem hostem eruptionem facerent, id. 25, 34, 10: ancepsque terror circumstabat, id. 21, 28, 3; 34, 27, 1; Quint. 10, 3, 30: haec me cura, haec difficultas sola circumstat, Plin. Pan. 3, 4: at me tum primum saevus circumstetit horror, Verg. A. 2, 559: scio acerba meorum Circumstare odia ( = meos, qui me oderunt), id. ib. 10, 905: circumsteterat Civilem et alius metus, Tac. H. 4, 79: circumsteterat palatium publica exspectatio, id. ib. 1, 17: paupertas et angustiae rerum nascentes eos circumsteterunt, id. Or. 8.—Subst.: circumstantĭa, ium, n., details, circumstances, in an argument: illa (argumenta) per se fortia non oportet circumstantibus obscurare, Quint. 5, 12, 4.

Perseus ID: n8321 Key: circumsto