UNITED STA TES p A TENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
APPLICATION NO. FILING DATE
15/292, 163 10/13/2016
95683 7590 05/29/2019
Ley dig, Voit & Mayer, Ltd. (Frankfurt office)
Two Prudential Plaza, Suite 4900
180 North Stetson Avenue
Chicago, IL 60601-6731
FIRST NAMED INVENTOR
Wenkai Shang
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
United States Patent and Trademark Office
Address: COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS
P.O. Box 1450
Alexandria, Virginia 22313-1450
www .uspto.gov
ATTORNEY DOCKET NO. CONFIRMATION NO.
815484 6900
EXAMINER
NGUYEN, TRUC T
ART UNIT PAPER NUMBER
2833
NOTIFICATION DATE DELIVERY MODE
05/29/2019 ELECTRONIC
Please find below and/or attached an Office communication concerning this application or proceeding.
The time period for reply, if any, is set in the attached communication.
Notice of the Office communication was sent electronically on above-indicated "Notification Date" to the
following e-mail address(es):
chgpatent@leydig.com
PTOL-90A (Rev. 04/07)
UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
BEFORE THE PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
Ex parte WENKAI SHANG, DIETMAR GENTSCH,
PETR NEUMANN, and ROMAN PERNICA
Appeal 2019-003158
Application 15/292, 163
Technology Center 2800
Before LINZY T. McCARTNEY, JOHN P. PINKERTON, and
JASON M. REPKO, Administrative Patent Judges.
REPKO, Administrative Patent Judge.
DECISION ON APPEAL
Appeal 2019-003158
Application 15/292, 163
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
Appellants1 appeal under 35 U.S.C. § 134(a) from the Examiner's
rejection of claims 1-5 and 9-14. App. Br. 1-5.2 Claim 6 was canceled.
The Examiner indicates that claims 15-20 are allowable and objects to
claims 7 and 8 as being dependent on a rejected base claim. Final Act. 5-6.
We have jurisdiction under 35 U.S.C. § 6(b). We reverse.
THE INVENTION
Appellants' invention relates to a voltage sensor inside an insulating
resin. Spec. ,-J 7. According to the Specification, a voltage sensor's accuracy
may change with an insulating resin's surface conditions-e.g., humidity or
parasitic capacitance. Id. ,-i 4. To solve this problem, the invention uses a
grounded metal grid so that the sensor's measurements will not change with
external conditions. Id. ,-i 11. In one embodiment, the metal grid is arranged
around the sensor housing and completely inside the resin. Id. ,-i 13. Claim
1 is reproduced below with our emphasis:
1. An embedded pole part for medium or high voltage use,
the part comprising:
a vacuum interrupter which is embedded into an insulating
resm;
a current and/or voltage sensor including a sensor housing,
integrated inside the insulating resin, arranged rotationally
1 According to Appellants, the real party in interest is ABB Schweiz AG.
App. Br. 1.
2 Throughout this opinion, we refer to the Final Office Action ("Final Act."),
mailed June 16, 2017; the Advisory Action ("Adv. Act."), mailed September
7, 2017; the Appeal Brief ("App. Br."), filed October 19, 2017; the
Examiner's Answer ("Ans."), mailed January 8, 2019, and the Reply Brief
("Reply Br."), filed March 8, 2019.
2
Appeal 2019-003158
Application 15/292, 163
symmetrically around a conductor of the pole part, the sensor
housing having an outer circumference;
a metal grid, implemented into the insulating resin and
around the outer circumference of the sensor housing, 3
THE EVIDENCE
The Examiner relies on the following as evidence:
Martin US 7,285,743 B2 Oct. 23, 2007
THE REJECTIONS
Claims 1-5 and 9 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 102(a)(l) as
anticipated by Martin. Final Act. 3-4; Adv. Act.
Claims 10-14 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as unpatentable
over Martin. Final Act. 5.
THE ANTICIPATION REJECTION
The Examiner's Findings
The Examiner finds that Martin discloses every limitation of claim 1.
Final Act. 3; Adv. Act.4 In particular, the Examiner determines that
Martin's voltage screen 220 is a metal grid that "is around the outer
circumference" of the housing. Ans. 4. In the Examiner's view, the recited
"outer circumference" encompasses the outer surface of Martin's sensor,
3 As to a claim's form, the MPEP instructs that "[e]ach claim begins with a
capital letter and ends with a period." MPEP § 608.0l(m) (9th ed. Rev.
08.2017, Jan. 2018) ("Form of Claims"). We note that claim 1 does not
follow this form because it ends with a comma.
4 The Examiner entered Appellants' amendments filed after the Final Office
Action and provided an explanation of how the claims are rejected for the
purposes of this appeal. See Adv. Act.
3
Appeal 2019-003158
Application 15/292, 163
including the cylindrical surface and "the two flat circle end surfaces."
Adv. Act.; see also Ans. 4 (discussing Martin's metal grid).
Appellants' Contentions
Appellants argue that Martin's metal grid is not disposed around the
sensor housing's outer circumference. App. Br. 4. According to Appellants,
Martin's voltage screen 220 is disposed to the right of the annular sensor's
flat end, which is not part of the "outer circumference." Id.
Issue
Under § 102, has the Examiner erred in rejecting claim 1 by finding
that Martin discloses a metal grid, implemented into the insulating resin and
around the outer circumference of the sensor housing?
Analysis
For the reasons discussed below, we agree with Appellants that the
Examiner erred. App. Br. 4.
The issue here turns on the meaning of "around the outer
circumference of the sensor housing." In particular, the claim recites a
relationship between the recited metal grid and the sensor housing. In claim
1, the sensor housing is "arranged rotationally symmetrically around a
conductor of the pole part," and the metal grid is "around the outer
4
Appeal 2019-003158
Application 15/292, 163
circumference of the sensor housing." Figure 1, reproduced below, shows
an example of this arrangement.
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tpe purchasi:: ofctictfonaties ordthetnnt reference bo9ks.Jt carries the
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assurance of quality and Ji.uthority. · · · · ·
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Qc,ngte,s. c:at~m>!lini~ m Publication Data
Merriam-Webster's collegiate dictionary. - 10th ed.
p. cm.
Includes index.
ISBN 0-87779-708-0 (unindexed: alk. paper). - ISBN 0-87779-709-9 (indexed:
alk. paper). - ISBN 0-87779-710-2 (deluxe: alk. paper). -- ISBN 0-87779-707-2
(l;,_minated cover).
1. English language-Dictionaries. !. Merriam-Webster, Jnc.
PEJ628,M36 1996.
42l--c1c20 95-36076
CIP
Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary, Tenth Edition principal copyright 1993
COLLEGIATE is a registered trademark of Merriam-Webster, Incorporated
AH rights reserved. No part of this book covered by the copyrights hereon may be
reproduced or copied fa any form or by any means-graphic, electronic, or mechani-
cal, including photocopying, taping, or infoimation storage and retrieval systems-
without written permission of the publisher.
Made in the United States of America
1516RMcN96
S: in orto an opposite dkectkm or position (tum""'-') 6 ~ vvHh.some
appro~c.h to exactness: APPROXIMATELY (cost,......, $5)
23r-ound p.rep ( 14c} 1 s. : on. i 1
: in· ~1 directions outward from (look ,.__, yov) 3 ~ .here and .theI:e in or
thrciU:g:hout (l?arnstorm.ing ~ t:he country) .:S. : so as to have a center
or hasi.s. ifl: {a sO~iety. organized ,.._, k;inship. ties)
3fil'-0llnd adj {la49) 1 : ABOUT l :I anm.ud : gone through
rnanY va,i'ied eX_Pe.riences : become wortdty-V11se
Bri!ISlliF·tm>-'d!lelt adj O 943) : being in effect, con{iimiug, or lasting
24 hours a day: CONST ANT. . . ·
arouse::\;i.· 1r~(1~\ vb ann.rn;ed; ar-ou5~in.g {a-. fas in .4.rise) + rq1~se] vt
( l 593) · l : to awaken from sleep 2 , to rouse or stim\l)ate to action
or to physiological readiness for activhy : EXCITE e·i~-,ilt\ vt -at,ed; -at,i~g {l 953) : to p)ay (as a
chord or passage) in arpeggio . ,
a_;> .. peg .. gii1, \ar-~pe,.,je~/;, .. 'pe,jO\ n. pl -glOS [It, fr. arpeigiai-e to PI8.y.on
the harp, fr. arpa harp, of.Gmc origm; akin to OHG hmpho. harp1 (ca.
l 724) 1 : prodllS \'iir-kwi-{,)b"S, ·k"··bas\ YQX0!'1A.RQ1JEijlJS
m·,rni::k \'at-ak; <>-'rak\ a [Ar 'araq sweet juice, liquoiJ(1521) : an
Asian :alcoholic beVer.~ge like t\lm . .tl~.a,t. is- di~t~Ued. from a fermented
mash ohrtaherl ric(;': with toddy or mol:,'15$es · ·
ar•rajgn \;,-'ran\ vt [ME arreinen, fr. MF araisner, fr. OF\ fr. a· (fr .. L
ad-) + rai,nier to speakifr. (assumed) YL rationare,. fr.· Lration•,. ratio
reason - more. a} REMOi>I] (14c} 1 :. to caii (a defendarit) before a
court to ,i.nswer to .an)ndictment : CBAROE .2. :. to acc.\lse of .wrong,
inadequacy, or imperfectiqn c.,... ar..r21lg,Mnent \-m"nt\ n
ar-~:mge \a-'ranj\ vb •.range!!; •r:mg•ing [ME ariingen, fr. MF aran-
gie,r,_. fr. OF,.fr. ~~--j- reugf~r.tp._.set in_~·r(?W, h'.. reng row - n:J.Of~.at
RANK].H07S9t .l : .. t; oi· ad}usti:rient <""' flowers in. a ya:;e> <"". cards alphabetically) . 3 2 : . to adapda musical composition) by
sc9ri.µg fpr: ·y:Oi$~$ .. Or: iIJ.&tri.rm~ts:" other thriij those for whi~h Orig, . .writ-
t¢I:l ... ·h .:. OR~HESTRAiE :4.-: to bring ~bOut an agfeer!i~nt .or urider$(and-
in;L~O~~rn~~g:>· SET:fLE <.,_, an .~X:cl.Hm·g~. of War p~is~ners) .~. vi .. 1
: . :to btjrig )~bout. :an flgfee.m_ent o.r under~t.a:n1_li~g (arn;;Ngeil ~0)1ave. a
tabk a.t .the restawant> .Z: to make preparations : .PLAN (arranged for
a.va.Giitlon <,vith his fa111ily) t(fn see.ORPER ...,.. il<"•ri:iug.er \~·'ran,j;,r\ n -··· .... . . ... . . . . . . .
"~·~ange0 mient \a:'ril.nj-m,nt\ ii. (,690} l a : tlw sfate of being ar-
range<) : .QRDER (everything in nei>.f',-,) !, =. the act ofarnmglng {the
cv. of (he details was qllickly accomplished) 2 :. something arranged:
as·· .. a :f a:pr:eIµp.inai:-y ~e~$l,lr~.: PREFARATrON (travel"".~> .1'1; ap ·arlap~
t~tion· of a fnusica'l coffipositiOn by res·Coring C· :. a._11 inforin~La!ir.ee-·
men! or sett\em.ent esp .. on personal, social, or political matt.ers. (c-.~s
Uflder ·the neW .regi.r.qC).· 3 ; spm.f:thing mai;:le by ;:µ'rangjng t,a.rts._.or
things together
· · · ·
ar•r®t \'ai·-~nt\ adj [alier: of errant] (1553) : being notoriously with-
q:ut .lWJde(a,tjo~ ; . E; • J:, .: an
orderly listing of jurors impaneled 2 a : cwm!NG, i>.Tillrn ll , rich
or beautifuja:ppare! : FINERY 3 ; a body of soldier.a : M'!LrflA (the
b~toll am;! his fuilOsing group : large numl.ier i'•Ftl'1,:"cage \•ij\ Ii (I4c) 1 : th , the condition· of being
stopped 9r inactiv~:. 2.:::fhe::taking .. or d.eta~ning h1 cust94y :qy.:;mthor.
ity of la.w ~ i>ud.e.r "~~e&t : in lega) custody
Bi'sre~-tant \;,-'res·'t;>nt\ ii ( 1962): a S\lbstr0 res1Ang.ly \-til]•le\ adv
ru-,rhyth•mia \a-'riili-me-a\ n [NL fr. Gk, lack of rhythm, fr. arrhyth-....
~os unrhytrunical, Ir. a· + ,:hythmos rhythm] \ca, 1860}: an. alteration::
m rhythm of the.heartheat either m tJme or force . . •'
,n,rb.ytlNruc \-mik\ adj [Gk arrhythmosJ (1853): lacking rhythm od
regularity (,_, locomotor activity.) · •··· :C
a,·,ri-eF.,,..ban \,ar-e-,er-'ban, -'ban\· n (Fl 0523) :. a proc!s.mation of a•:•
king (as of France) caHing his vassals to arms; also : tile body of va11-./
sals summoned ·. .·. . : )
aN·i•el"e'-pen-~ee \-pa0 - 0sit\ n (F, fr. arrii!re in l.iack + pensi!e thought])
(J 824) : mental reservation ·. • • · . . , , • }
,n,rls \'ar-;,s\ n, pl arris or ar,ri~,es fprQb. mo<)if. of MFareste, lit.,}
fishbone, fr. LL arista - more at ARhE] (1677) , the sharp edge or)
S?!ient angle f~J~med by the meeting of two surfa~s esp. in moldings ,: ::
a.,-;r!yoal \a· 'n,va\\ n ( 14c) 1 : the act of arriving 2 : the attaintnei\(:::
of an end or state 3 , one that has recently reached a destination· · • •••
ar';..1:ive· \;.-..:(riv\ vi fil" .. F-ived.; sr .. r1:av .. Jo.g".[ME ariven, fr: OF a.riyer, ··fr;:):
(assurried)VL arl'ipare to come to shore, fr.Lad- + ,·lpashore .ce.more•••
at RlVEl (!'.le) 1 a , to reach a 3 : to achieve success .ce. 11r,\
Fiv,e.- n - a.tirlve at : · to· reach by effort or thought a \~··ro-b~\ n [Sp&Pg; fr. Ar.iir-rub'. lit.; the quarter] (1555)/l\
: ,fo old Spiu1;sh unit o( weight equal to about 25·Pounds 2: an ol : lo make und.ue claimsJo having : ASSU&illi))
: · to claim on behalf of another : ASCRJB£ ~ aN'o,g:aootfon \;ai'nt, ,ar-,o•-(,)dee'sma.n\ n [F'] (l8ii'.I}:>
t. , a.n ac&nfaistratlve district ofsome large Pren.ch citles 2 : the l~tli,'::
est Qlvision of a French department .· ·. . .· . . .... . ) • }
1aN:ow \'ar-(,)6\ n [ME arwe, fr. OE; akm to Goth arhwazna arrov;,,:l/:
arctis bow, arch, arc] (bef. l2c) 1: a misaikweapon shot from a)i¢!W.:C:
:ind usu. having a slender shaft, a pointed head, and feathers at thfliiitf•
2 .: something shaped like. an arrow; esp: a mark (as on a inap or.jliifu::C
board) to indicate direction · ·· . ·. · · · · · · ·cc:c?:c:,•
2arrow vi (1827).: to move last and straight .like an arrow in fliiiW:
~!~i~, ti/I
leaves shaped like arrowhe.ads . .·. . .·. . . . ·.·.·.·········
ag'.;,}"OW .. rOOt \-,rti.t, .. ~rttt\ · l"i { 1"()96) . . . . . .: :. : :::::::=:::::::::::
l a : any of a ge.iws (Maranta of arrowhe.ad 1 · .· : • :}))
the family Matantaceae, the . .ar- . . . ·• • •.••••••••••••••••••
rowroot ·family) of tropical American plant$• with. tuberous r:"s$e•n;.I \0:-Jrs-n~l, 'ar-.s'n.-~l\ n [It arsenale, ultim. fr. Ar dar. 0ii!ii1ii~•
house of manufacture] 0555) 1 a, an establishment for the•~''
facture or storage of arms and military equipment b : . a col1ei::ti1.<;1l:!)~
~V,e.ap9ns. 2· : .. ·s:r:oR~, RIWERTORY (th~ team ~s ~ .of vetera.n p1~y~:t.~>.:::r=::::~~
ar,se.~11te \'iirs-!l"t, 'eircs'n-~t, dihi).t\ n (180()}: a salt or est~(<)t~))
arsenic acld .. · .. : .. : :::::::::::::::::::::::::
la,:,se•nk \'arn-nik, •s'n•ik\ ii [ME; yellow orpiment, tr: MF< &c•lfi:i@,:
fr .. L arseniq,m, fr, Gk arsen/lcon, arrheriilw», fr, Syr zarl!ig, o[Jr:~~
origin; akin to Av zaranya gold, Skt hari yellowish - more at>
04c\ 1, a trivalent and pentavalent solid poisonous elenienf
commonly metallic steel-,gray, · crystalline, and brittle - sef ll
table 2: apo;sonous ttioxide.As.,O, orAs,o. ofarseriicJ!S~!L.
an insecticide or weed killer - called also arsenic trioxide . ... :· /:'.::::::::
i.,,,,_,-.sen•i<: \ar•'se-nik\ adj (1301): of, relaiing to; cir contafoin~•#.
esp. with a v~lenceoffive. .·. . . ··• · . •i,)\.,.,.,.·
aNsc:<1<.i0cal\ar-'se-ni,bl\ aaj 0605), of;. relating to, comaiiu.~~(,.
cauoed by arsenic<- poisoning) - Rrsenical n · · ·· /•'}'•??ii
ar-se,,nit~~S./1!!,.
with a :qwre.posHive.element . · .· .:/}{{:{:~fa.:
8<'•&e,ni•01'Si \iir-'se,ne-gs\ adj (18!8) .:.of,c,elating tn, orc'~Q:ii~W-:!,
ars~nic.esp. when trival.ent .··: ·. ··.· .:.:.::::~:==::f~
ar-,,se-snite \ ~ar-t.:"n-QJt\ n ( 1800) : a salt er ester cf an arsenious .~~~~\===~
11
208 cfrcumcenter •@· dstrnnk
clr•cum~cenoter \'s;,,:,k~m-,sen-t;,r\ n foa. 1889) : the point at .which
the perpendicular bisectors of. the sideg of a t~jan.gle inters~c.t an.d which
is equitj.i;;tant from .the t~ree.vertice.s
ci~,cum,ci.r0 de \-.~s>r,k;,l\n.{!885): a circ!ewhich passes thro11gh all
the vertices ofapoJygon.(as a tiiangle) •· . . • . .. . .
c.it .. cu~-dse \'s~r¥k.1m¥~.Iz\ w ~cis€d; ... cis-,ing [Ivtl\f(. ~>cfr~U??}dsus.
pp. of <:ircumcidere, fr. circum- + caedere to cut.] (Uc):. to .~-ut off tho
prepuce of (a male)or Jhe clitoris of (a female)-c.iN:um>.d,;.s,l!' >r
cir.<::1ID1°ci,sfon \,s~r-k'm-'si-z!,,m, .'s~r,k'm-,\ n (J:2c) .1 a, tl>e act of
circ~mc~sh1g; e~p; :a ~ew~.s.~ ri~e perf'?~~.~pu .~ale in~af?t~ as :3. si~ 9f
· inclusi.on i.n the Jel<'ish religious com:nwnjty •. Ii: the condition of being
circm~cfaed . 2 cap : Ja,iuary l observeiiQ \(,)s;,r-'k;:,m,f!ii;~s\ adj . . • •
ci~0 cum.fm,e \Mr0 k'rn-"f)'iiz\ yt •fUBcd; -fm,'.i,ag fL circumfutiis;. pp.
.of.yircumfu~de.re. to· pour·· around,.; Jr .. circum-· -t 11.?ndere }9 R~~r · -
more at FOUND) (1605) : SURROUND, ENVELOP -· ciN,um-fli•Bion
Vfyi.i,zh<>nYi? · · ·
c.i:r--cum .. ja .. cent \!s;}r .. k;)m-!ja-s;)nt\ adf [L·Cffcun:ijcfc~nt--. c(n;umjacf'.ns.
prp: of cir.cu.mjr-k'm,Jo--'kyli,sh:m\ n fL circumlocution-, cir-
c1,mlocutiiJ, fr. drcum,·+.·locutio s=h, fr. loq1,i to speak} (15c)· 1
: the·use o~ an un.n.ecessarily large number of words to express an i¢a
2 , evasion in speecl1· ...,.c dr,cum•loc•li•ioory \-'ra-kya-,to:r:e, -,tor-\
adj . . . .
ciFo(!Ulll•hN112o' \,sar-k;,m-~.iJ,n,,r\ adj (ca. 1909) : revolving about or
surrounding the n1oon
<:~r,.~utn-.nav-.i-ig:ate .\ .. "na~va.:~giit\ vt [L circumnavtga}us, pp .. of circum-
_.na»igare to sail around, fr, circum.- + !}av/gare to navigate]. 0634) : to
go •. completely around (as the earth) esp. by water; also , ·to go around
instead ofthrough : BYPASS (- a congested area) - dr•Cllll,n:W•i•ga-
tio .. n\-,na-v;,,'ga,sh"nV.n -. cj~,cm,i•nil.v,,i,gad the capsule of the fruit
Cb··cll:m~.s~~j~~.:Vsar-k~m.,.sl~-tib\ vr .(L::drc;um\Jp·:~Qere; :fr.: circunJ.~ .. +
scr/bere to write, draw·°"'" mQre at SCR!llEJ (J.835) 1 2 , .. to constrict
the range or ac;tivity of definitely.and dearly b,. to defins, or mark off
carefully 2 "' todraw.i.!inearound l,; tosurround.byoi:asifby
a Qouudary 3 : .. io construct or b~ ~o~~structed around (~ :g~.Qm~triqaJ
fig:u.r.e} .s~ as:~o . .t(>u~~ as m~ny poin~s as pos.siPI~ .· 53'.!l set?,i:fMl'f
~ix~(:lSn1~cri~t!Q~::\11s~r:k;]rn-~~J.;rip.,sha~\ ·~ JL. circu.rrisczriptit;m-, .<:.ir~
cumscriptio, fr, circumscribereJ (I 531) . : l , · the act of circ\lmscribiug
, the S(ate of. being eirc\lmscribed. as . R : P.EFIN!TlON, OELlMITATION l,
: LIMITATlON 2 ! something that circumscribes: as .~ ; . uMn,.BOUND~
AR'<'.. b '• RES1'/<.!CT!ON• 3; .. a circumsc,ib.edarea 9r dlsllict. .• .. .
CiF•CJ',fflsS!lect \'s;,r,k'r,:,0,spekt\ adj [ME, fr. MF or L;. MF cfrcon.spect.
f,r. 1,-.cir~um!ip~~~~. fr.;pp ... of circu.~pice?f!. to .109~ a~mind, b~ C:!J~t}.o-µs,
fr. clri;11(t)s\ .n [ME, fr. OF, fr. Lcir-
c:unj:.(o1)J{a, f1;..:.cir:c4:,tJ~l~nt-:, c.i!,1;:umstans~ :prp .. o.( circ;~mstar~ to sta,t',td
around, fr. drmm' + ,1tare to staild - m~re at STANOl(13c) l!' : a
cont::iition., ~4'ct, or ey~t ~ccompa.nying.,. ~Q~~~~io~li.Q..g.i .. or µe:ter~i~~~g
anotl>er.; an essentiaJ or inevitable concomit~nt (tlieweatlis:r is a~ to
be tilk.e,1 into consideration> l, : a S\lhor detail ,,..- o~en used i.n pl. · · 3 ~ auendant fQ,:-m,>lities and. cere-
monial <1nid,;; pomp, and - of glorious war -,-Sha!<) 4 : a11. event
that coristinites a ds:tai! {as of a narrative or course of events) (consid-
ering each ~ in turn) syss see OCCURRENCE . . . . •
d"'cum•stanced \-,stan(t)st, -st~n(t)st\ adj (ca. Hill): p):,c:ed in paf .
.ti.'?u.~a~ tj,re:~~stanr.e.~ e~p; i~ r~g~f4 to property qr i.~con~e
cir-eum;~t2n°HaB \,s~r'.k'm·'stan(t)-sh;,1\ adj (1600). 1.: belonging to,
c~~sist~ng in,. 9r. ·~e~~d.~t: o~ circ:umsta~~s .2: P,ertµie·nt·b.ut t:tot
essential : iNC!OEN'fAI,• · ·3 . , .marked · by careful attention to tletail
: abounding in factllal details (a "-' accounl of the fighi> 4 , CEREM<>-
.NlAL - cir•cum,st2n-ti:0aU.ty \·,stan(t)-she-'a-fa-te\ n :...:.C cir•~um-
stim'.tial,!y \·'sta,1(t)-<;hfo,)I e\ adv
SYIR CIRCiJMSTANtt.u, MlNUHS, PARTICULAR, DETAitED mean dealing
with a mailer fully and nsu. point by point. C!RCUMSTANTIAL implies
fullness of.detail tbat fixes something· described in tin1e and ·space (a
circ~rr,t~faf1:rla.l a~·'?our~tp( qur. yisit), Mi~TUJ.E i1!)p~i<::s .cl:ose and. s~a.rch~
ing attention to the smallest i!elails (a minu.te examination of a fossil).
PARTICIJLA!l. implies a. i>tecise auention to every detail (a particular
description 0Lthe .. sco>1e of the crime), PllrA!LEDstresse< abumlance or
c9mPletenes~ of. det,,il (a detai.led ao;,lysls of the. even,).
dK'e1>msiantial 1g aiif
proxirnately 12 largo, papl!fae neai th<::::;:::
cil'.~CUm•"ent \;sar,k'm.'ve,1t\ vt U, ~ir~UmNntus, pp. of circuffi
fr. cir,;urri- + venire to come--"- more.at COME] (1539) 1 a, .Jii:
b : to mak,,.:.1. circuit around_• 2 : · to manage to g~t aroµnd]·
·frigenWty or stratag~µi {Lb.e -se~u:P. -..e4. th~ red ·tape :--Lym~'¢::···
~art),,..,... cit,cu~,ven•tioi, \-'ven_(~/-sh~n \ n , , .· • ••//
C>r•c11.m,vo,lu,b0Si \scar-.,ks>m-v;;,.,h.1-sh"n,,s~r-k m-vo-\ JJ[!vIE:.;:;
v.olucioun, fr:. "fyi.L .. ,;/r~u,r:rw;lution-~ .cir.c.umyolutio, fr.· L cir.cuf.?1:lf6t
,evolve, k drcum- +. roive1·e to roil - more at VOLUBLEl(l:SChi
or-iµ.fjtance.~f.tui~1ing:a:rqund.an.axi~ .·.· :. . .: ··)):)\::
e:fr .. cu5 \ 's~r'.'"k~s\. n... ofte.n at~rib f.L, circle, circus·~ mo~)&?>
( 14c) A a , a large arena enclosed by tiers of seats on thre-se\ adj · .. · •• •.• .::::::::::::;
c.iFcns catch n (1893) , a catch (asin baseball or footb,@ t~:i\C
extraordmary or spectacular effort . .: ·= ··.· . . . . .: :}::;:;:::;::::
ci0 re 11/s(} ci•nl \s.~-'ra, se-\ n[F, Jr.. pp. of cirer.to: wax, fr, c;t·c ..
cera - more at CERUM.EN](l 921) .1 : a highly glazo,d finisfr
usu. achieved by applying wa1t to the fabric . ;J: , a fabii.<; (if
.\;: :a .. wispy white. e:lou
ke cryst:ihformed at altitudes of 20,000 to 40,00() fe,:,t
meters} - see L'L0up illustration · .. : . · .. .·.· < :::/\\:{;:=:}::"
cis,\'sis\ adj [L, lit., on tbis sid.eJ (1888): characterized 1,y)iii:j
tam atqms or groups pf atoms on the ~ame sid.e of .thelo~8!i."." .. ."
of a doul>le bond or of the plane of .a ring ill a molecule/.:./\\\
cfa: Pr•fi;,, [L,. fr. cis = more at HEJ 1 , on .thissi.d!l (@il@t
itql; .c1s (r\ adj (ca. I 877) : lying bet
the moon or.the moon's orbit (~·sp~c~>. :,· ··
ciS•i>laNn \(,lsis-'pla-t'n\ n [c!s- +. platinWIJ] (I . . ...... .
containing ru,.tineop!astic drug Cl2H"N2l?t nsed esp. itJ:tl1ft( ... .
testicular and ovarian tumors and advanced bladder B'l>).1('!'(:/\."
ci§-pfatr-sh;,n\ n [ML ·clstercium.CJte~uxHWHJ.J
ber ofa monastic order fou>1ded by St. Robert of 1\1:<>)e~lt!~:· ...
Citeaux, France, m1der l3enedictine rule - Cister:cia~Aiti\:
cis.tetn \'si.s-t~rn \ n [ME, .tr.. OF ci$terne, k · · · · ·
chest - more at .CHEST]( I 3c) l : . an artificial
ground tanl<) for storingJiquii!s and esp. w"t
large ".su. silver ves~el formerly used .(as in coo
tabl~·: 3. : .a f'.lui<.;1-:containµlg sac.or ca\•ity in a.n
ds.te,-.0i1a \sis,'t~r-n;,\ n, pl ,nae \-,ne\ [NL,.fr .. L,
:. C!S'rERi,l 3: as .. 2 , one of the large spaces und,;r
orane b : one ofthe intercoimected flattened ves
part. of tl,e endoplasmic reticulm:n that is studded ..
..o:is,ter-11.al \,n,,l\,:,dj .. ··. . · .... ····. . . ...:
ci5,t~!!n \'sis-,tran\ n[cis- + trans,+ i,oii] (1957):.
thatis .• equivolent to a gem, and that specifies a :i;ln ..
(as a proi~in or enzyme)-.ds,tron,ic \sis-'tra-nili;\ :i.iiij
Second College Edition
Words that are believed to be registered trademarks
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also identified as trademarks. The inclusion of any
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,is subject to prpprietary rights. Indeed, no definition
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Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Main .:ntry .under title:
American Herit~e dictionary.
Rev: ed:·of American Heritage dictionary of the
English language. New college ed. c1976.
l. English language-Dictionaries. I. Morris,
William, 1913-
PE1625.A54 1982 423 82-9346
ISBN 0-395-32943-4
ISBN 0-395-32944-2 (thumb index)
ISBN 0-395-33959-6 (deluxe edition)
Manufactured in the United States of America
Armagnac \ arracl(
tie between the for9~s of .. good an4 evil, .prQpl\esied .in the
1lible to occur at U,e end of the world. 2. A deci,ive .<::oriJJic;t
(LLat. Amu,gedon < 01<;.. < Heh, har meghiti/Jn, • I!l!l'1I1tain
di~uict of MegiMo, the• ,;ite .. ofsev.erol. gr~at battles. me!l"
arm•resl (arm'res\'.) n A support. for \he ann, as on. a piece
of furnitw~· or the inner surf~ce. o.f the .door of ~ yeh.iyl~.
~r~:.~i~t~}n.9}.iii.~'tv;Is'ti11:g} l!.· 'The .u:.~.of:~P, stI))J:1.g pr~s-
~.~:r~t t:q· :~~~:pli~~. a . .go~;:>"s~bjecli?'1,g n~/n~rable..congress,..
me.r1 to .r..'?me .. pc!fit~~~f:~r:rr.~-:ny(st~ng'» {J~.e~ :R- .G~es\
ti01:,e4 in the llible,l . ..· •.•· ... ·•. .·.. . .. ·.· . . . · .· .. · . . ... •
Ar•ma•gnac (orm<>n~yak') n. A dry brand:tJFr., aftei Ar-
mqgna~~.·~: ~~$.i<.?"f!)~·:~.outh)'.".~~~·. F)·~~·~·] ·:·:.: .. :::· ·::. .::::<
,iwl'l!a/m,nt.(i\r'wa,:mant}rt 1, Toewe~pciis,and:~upp!iesof
war with .w1iich a milit:uy"nit is equipped, .?COfkn · aim•·
ments. r\Jlt~ military f9'Ce.s and warequipnl(.,'t ofa COUn·
try. 3. A n'lilitiiIY i!lrce eql.lippe.d f,:,r war. 4, The process of
l>flI)lng .tor ware [L,;t . .arm,m,enta,. tools <, anna; ~ttllhJ.
ar·m.i,111~nctar+u~ (wma,mer,Jor'.e,~:m) rt, pL -,·o.mH, ot
-1:a (+;,) .. The c~plet.e equipmenfQf a p:hysici;,norrIJe.di
0
cal .jnstitutl,;n, .inchiding b<>eks, suppli','i, .a11d in.struwen.ts.
[Lat,, arsenal < ,,,mam~n(a,. tools., .a(IJlamentsJ . •• .. :
~lf'tna•ture (ar'ma,"'h.oor', -i::har} .Ii. 1, E/~ci. a. 11/e rotating
part ~f a dy11'1ffio consisting .i!ssentially of C()p~r wire
\>/Ound aro.u11d. ari ii:on. core. ~- Th~ movit1.g part cf an. d."'°·
HO!l'lil.g,>eti~ 4evice sudJas are)ay, l;u<Â¥t; .or l"uf~peal<.~r.
c,; A piece· Qf soft. trQii. conn;,c/ing. the poles Qf .a. magnet,
2. 11/"1. The pii;>teetive ci?vering qntructur" 9f an :u;.imal .or
plant: $. Pi, Ira•n'*ork se1,'.ing as a siipr.ortini; ,6!e.to(clay
spulpture: 4- A!"'-Qf .. [Lal: ,:ii,mQ(Ur~,.eqn>prnen.t < al'll:1(1", to
~· .. ':'(.~rma;}1~1~) ·::" .. · ... < : ..... :· : .. ·.··. ..:··:· .. · .. · .: :.·.
arnt,cliair (il.rm'char'). n. A chair. y,ith ~ide strucJ\i\'i'S to sup·
p.ort. the. ~~.:?~.~~~9~~:··~.qef'J• ... ~.~~!~}~J1~\~F:ti.~e ~~·.?~Y.e~
m~nt .. ~. t!t~~r. w4r.~~?!\ .. :;:. ... : .·. . . .:· .. : :.: · ·. : ..... ; ·: .. .:,: ... >:. : :
a,:metl (il.rnld}!l'4i· J, Eq,,ipped with weapon~. 2, fla.011g or
@"'cacwri~ed by ~-· ar!!l ·ot a.!'1Ils of .a. ~tat~ ·.· . · ... ·. . ·. .·. . :. . . . ·. .
arme (ilr'.:meiliu1t off\.rmenia. 2, '11w tndo-Eµrqpe:udanguage of the
?\~~~~ia~~' ~~.r·~~·rw~n .. ·q#/: ..
ar•~et (1!r'IJJ.et') n. A medieval light llehnet wit!, a neclc
g11ard. anyabfo yisor. lOfrl ... ·• ·•· . . . .
i,rm:fill (;i+m'.fool') "c .As !lillfh a.s an anr,.cap. Mld . ·•
.,roo·Jl<>II! (llfrt,'l;i>J')n, Mopel)j)igfor. thi:JinII in." ga,ment;
ar•,:ni•ger (il!'rn~·J~r) · ~s .1. •. M a;:rw1:>earer. Jl)r a · krugl).t;
squire. 2. A p.eri;o11 ~P,tirled tu heralipill c~estial
ci!:¢1es. [Fr, c<,phere. !ttmil.liJire <; .. I.cat.• 4miill.a, bracelet < yr-
mus,. ~hmtlder:J · · ·· · · · · · · · · · · ·
At~in7i·an:1;,m(ar:,wn'e,~,nlz'~)· ~-1hs:Aoctril1os !lf Ja-
cobus Artniiiius and liis f<:>llower~; opposing . the. Calvirtist
• doctrine of ab5ol.ute prestl)PJ•········ < > · .. ·. ·.i. < ••..•
Arinistioe Day '". ~Q'1»nihei ll; celeoN:ted as the anoi.ver-
,;,,ry of the ai:n>istice of)\'91:Jd v,>arT in 19l8< It has heen
• s~led\f eti!fa11s' i)# \i!)up. of people o~ganl;;;ed
fqr a specific ca.u.se .. s., A large multitll~, as of P""Pl~ pr
·· anirn~s. {ME, armee < Ofr. < Med- Lat .. ,,.rnJ<1Ja. -see ,'ll-
.M'A~1>,L ..•.....•.•.••....•.. ·. . •. . • •.. · ..
~m,y j!;i(.l"~r<::es. pl.n ·.rne aviatiqn bnu1~h oflhe 1:1:s,
ArJJiy bef<>re th.e. estabfohn)\!lit oftlw IJ.S, .Air F"rce. •. •• /
~l'inY ary\ ~, ,A.11y 9f yaricus ~!uefly tropi~~l New W l)r).d ~:nt(
of the sµ.bfamily [)ory\in<1e, fomil11g large. colonies . th~(
;noye fnmcpla,e to place., .· . . . ·• .. ·. . . . . . . / :.
A~il1y p_f the l)o'\ii,;,d .S)al,;,~./'· A t"1l?Porary f''.ganiza.ti.m) <:,(
all I11lhtaFY forces dµ,:mg .tnnf cf war, ;ncludrng .the Army.
Reserves in.the Natib)~iiIGt1llld, and Sele<;tive Servi9epi;:,:/
s"nnel,. a.s well}IS. the reg1,1lar u,~, Arilly: ....... • ... ·. ·. / •.
ar'.111¥"'-'orm (ilr'mo:i,vil~') "• Any 6f various ins.ect l:ir;Y~~)
· that traveLin large .!9'0\>PS, de~troying crops and other. yeg1>t-to (ar~11a'to) n, '\/,ajant of "~"att,:,. . .. · . . /
ar·nH~11 (llr'nHo) n 1. A,<)Y of vari.c,,. plsints of 1he gontar,a,. "sed Jo( spn1.ins .mi.a .
btt1ise~. tNLaL Arnkt1, genus name,] •· . ·• .. •.·• ... · .• . . .· .. ·• Ji
ar·~id (ar'c,i_d', ar'-) n; .A.tiY of varions plants.of th~.faµii]y.}
At1icea. which mcluMs ihe arums. fAR(l.iM} + ,mP-l .+i!iii?i
.?J~~. a@~. .· . . . .. <· . . ·. . . ·.·. : :· .. :. ·::.. . ·.· .. :.:.:::·.\,){\:({
a"ro·,~~ .~~:-~O:i.~t():/J'. \i:, ~ro~~~~ed., ~-ro~n:t-ing, .. ~".Y?.i~~~.,.1fF:~4{if?
Begone; ay;unt:. '.'Axoint ih?¢, .witch!" (Shakesj).ea.re}.. [C\:i'Mi
a?!.:;fLo, intangible •:}i//
aro;mat-ic (ii:r'o-mlit'lk) adj. 1, Havi1>g an ari>Wil.; rtas>'i@?
sweet-slllellin11, \Jf ~picy .. 2; Ch~1n. Of, pertaining tq; "'~~M
(airring th<, sl,vc~roou _ffilg characteristicofthe b_e~¢@.#{
nes and related <>fg'!ii!c groups. ~n; An aromat;c plJiicij(i/f.,
·· ~~~~.a~.ce::~.~(o·~~~,i~~1:.1y a{!v: .. -:--'~~'~·~e.(l~~~)i)f?}
~r~o~~~-:~¢~.i.~ty. {,£1 ~:~~~.!:1-;1:-t~·1 · ~.-r~i J??·) ~- ·A:oW~f;fij~~{
ity or charac.ter, esp. the distinctive structure or pro!i~~\f~:
9-f ~~~··~~1:~t.i~ ch~~~~~ _.~. ~ubje.ct to .i)i@
t1Qfl::that:result::> ill {ln. aromatic compoun4 ... ;.;.oa;nrQ:'tj:t~~ti~zi:a?:" tiOfr·n .. . ·.. . .· · .·..... .· ·.· . . · .. · ·. · · · · : : · ·.·. · . .:.:-:-:<·>>:·:·:·
~~r.~~~ (~::t?Z').·v: ·ra~:t·~n:~e:.i~f ar.i~~ . . ... · .. ··.· ·.············
,nound(o,round') adv 1;0n ort~.all sides or;,., ,,nmc
~/9~~:. ~- ~~···~:·~~f:'?}e·9r·c:irt'.'~;~ 111?~~0~~ .. 3;:TQ·:~~~h.:~f:·::·:·:·
of a group: enough to go around. 4dn eapo!is. ;l; A tough
p~q.~~~~v~: P:':~~~g~::$,~~~. ~s }~e.:P~~Y ... &c.&1:~s:·Fqy~~g:~~~~n
arihn,;l~ or met,tl]ic pli,~ on ~nk,s. or warsliips; 3, S<1m<:c
· thi':11 serving as a ~af~f;Uard or protecti<:>n,. 4, 1'hi' a111:mr~d
vehiclwot an army, •":"''Y: --mored/.'."'""'l"~' •ll'l<>.<$,.To
c,:,yer wit!) anr,or: [J\lE ~nnw~ < Ofr: 4rmi!uref La.t. arma.-
·~urr~ .. f :~rr,,:~r~}. ~:'~r~r<.:~~q: ~rm~) ... ·.·.· ·.· ··.· ....
ar'mor'beat·er(ar'mar•t>ar'ar) n; ·ooe who carries tb.e il(IJlOf
~~c~.h~~;J~~r~?~~:t~eJ:~.;· iyt:n.®r:q~~u.»~:. ~; .. ~f!j ·
~thand, 11eatby:·H~ »>au~daround all day. 7,J
specific· pl~~.f: ?1' .. ~~~; .. w~~J'!..· Y?.~·c?m~: arpund.
111,al. To • nonllal or desired state: g_ Jnjof>iia/: Mi@
mate!y; abollt. ~prep: 1 ... On. all sidesot 2. !:>O ast~~~~i;i
surro\lnd; or e!lvel"!l.· 3. About the dfc1lrif; encir<:lmg, 4, Ab9t1.t the cet1tral point i;if; i/,;;•~~-
n'1.ot10n aroUrirI1he· sun. S; :In or ·tff variou.s .·· · · ·
•:•:i.'.::
~lfilt ,-0::::;
~l ~,~ *~$: '«m@
&,'ii~
~~':?§}
ofawapori •.•.•.. ·.·.··.·. ·.···• ••···. ··•·• ·•.•· ··.· ..•.•... ···•·••·.·•·•····•• ar·fuor-clad (i\t'mar,1dlid') .aw. Weiniilg ot '<()Yered Wiih ar-
~~n:.~ .: . ·:: . ::,··\.···::., < .. : ... ·.· · .> .. i i ··<: ·:.. : :··. ···: .... · ·:·: .:··;
ar,rM@vered with arl)lor.
;l;Equipp6d with o/"'ored v~hic1es, as• a tnilitary urrit, ·• .. ·
ar•mor'er(ifr'm~f,."r).n .. J. (lne wM Illakes !lr repaus aimoi:.
2: A, m~n1;1faciurer cf• v,,eapons, 3, An•. erilisted . man· fo ;rw ()f maintenance and repair of the sroaµ arms of his
1>l"rn ••·· .• · ••• · · •. . . . . · .· • · ·. . . < • • ·
armor plate .n. Speciallyfo(IJlu!ated hard ,tee! plate µsed io
:coy~rw~shlps·: vet).itles;·.and ~ortifi~a~ion?~.~~~~~.i:~PJff~~
ad/ ····· ·· .· .·. ··. ·· .·. · ... ·•.···· ·•··· ••
ar·m<)r•y (ar'mne) n;, ,pl: 'l¢s .. 1: A. stC>reh<>ll'i!;. fQ! a)'ins;
arsena'j_ 2, A bttlldingJor stqring '1J:Ill~ anct military equjp~
menl; esp; cne serviI!g as b.eadq,tarlers for
armour(lir',i,.)r) n. ChieflfBrit .. Varumtof,.,~,,.'
arm·pit (arm'pit'} n. The hollow under the ami· at the sl!c;ul-
der. · ·
.. ~-~r: ~i\!(ng i;;ror:1.r:1}~.~. co;m1ry.~id~. c;t ~n .
\ide of: the house af~und the ,:omer, J, .Jnfi
mately at; ··near. . ......:-idioms; get .~ro~.~d: Jnfo
or cope y,ithsuccesstull:y, 2, To $ucceed m ¢
eurrm:nting: g~t ~rouno:11,:,.J,iformiJ/. To fi11d #
si.~n .. :}'> ·&~Y.~··· o~e~~. ~~J~n.~~nR tq. [ME~ fo . ~lW
dremhlerence.] .· . . . . . . .· . . . . . . • • •• ·•····•·······•·•·•·•· a,round,thiH:1ock (<>'tound'th:Hliik') · a4,'. V'@~~~
.1:°'':lbd~~~-·C?".lo~k- . . . . .· . . . . . :·.·.: :}\(::::··········:-:
a"roUsE1. :(?~J"oqi/} ·v. ·2n-0us~1 a·r1?~s~1ng>· :·~;r~:·>=··
1. To aw~en.fron1 or .as if from sleep; 2, J:<1 5#~
-'-:'inir To be or b.;,come aroused. {< i:i\:r::::::::r:::==
ar~:ii1~tt~;',;f~;e;o~h!~'?~ .~;p~J ;~~;,.;~s'ttt1~1i
sim11l\aneo«sly, 2'. A chord played or sung i~1>T/)f'., .·•··
< !'rpegg/at?, !.nl (lir,pliN'). n. Anol<} f rench. uni.t !?f: l~M
ment appro,umately equivalent to a,i a,rf}f~;:··
Lat arepenniJ,.ba!facre,ofG;11lish orig.] •:.••••
1,wque•bu~ (ilr'k:>-b'>s, -kw.>0 ) /l, Variant•of········
er-rack (ar'ok. .,'.r~k'} n Mtmni alcobolkd.
ting absence of quantity; ze~o. 2. An A
figure; number. 3. Th~ Ara_b1c sy~tem of
ltion. 4. A person or thing without 1nf1:uen
ntity. 5. a. A cryptographic system m
n text of regular length, usu~y letters, ar
;posed or substituted according to a
b. The key to such a system. c. A m
design combining or interweaVIng letters
gram. -v. -phered, -pher•ing, -phers. -i
ems in arithmetic; calculate. -tr. 1. To
og; encipher. 2. To solve by means of afi
: OFr. < Med. Lat. cifra < Ar. ~ifr.]
,o) prep. In approximately: born circa 1900.
Lround < circus, circle.) -
, (sar-ka'de-an, -klld'e-, sUr'ka-di'~m,. -~e'-}
biting approximately 24-hour penodic1ty.i
,t -+ Lat. dies, day.] •
rhythm n. A daily rhydunic activity cycle,
r intervals, that 1s exhibited by man_Y org
m (sor-kiish'on, -kiish'e-on) n. 1. An inhabi
esp. a member of a Caucasian people
2. The non-ludo-European language
-Gly". Of or pertaining to the people, 1
Circassia.
n walnut n. The mottled or veined li
.he English walnut used esp. in decorativ
tr'se) n. An enchantress described in t~
ined Odysseus for a year and tu~rne,? .his
.at.< Gk. Kirke.] -Cir'ce•an (sur'se-an,"S
e (si\r'so-nat') adj. 1. Ring-shaped. 2. Ro
tip, as a young fem frond. [Lat. ~ircmatus,
1re, to make circular < circinus, pair of co
1rcle.] -cir'ci•nate'ly adv.
1s (sllr'sa-n;)s) n. A constellation in the
ti.ere near Musca and Triangulum Australe:
Ur of compasses < circus, circle.]
si\r'kol) n. 1. A plane curve everywhere
given fixed point, the ~enter. 2. A _.
d by a circle. 3. Something, such _as a r
circle. 4. A circular course, circuit, or
section or tier of seats in a theater~ 6.
that finishes at its starting point or c
itself· cycle. 7. A group of people shari
Livity, 'or achievement: a cfrcle of f[ienf1s;
!. In some European countnes, a terntonai;:-
'e division, esp. of a province. 9 .. A s~he~
!I interest; domain: well-known m scie~t_l
,gic. A fallacy in reasoning in which the_
o prove the conclusion, and the cone
the premise. --:-v,- -cled, -cling, -cles. -tr.
m a circle around; enclose. 2. To move
d. -intr .. To move in circles; revolve: f
,ad. [ME cercle < OFr. < Lat. circulus,
] -cir'cle< (-klor) n. . ,
:ynonyms: circle, coterie, set, cltque, _c
y. These nouns denote a group of assoc .
ibe almost any group having common
~s on a scale large or small: sewing circl
It can also designate the extent
onships: circle of friends. Coterie appl
late group of congenial persons. Set s
:ly bound group defined either by c_on
)r preoccupation with fashion~ble activity.
Clique pertains to an e?'clus1ve group,:
activities in which outsiders are derued
, can imply exclusiveness but often me.ans
,ted to a common interest best pursueQ
uy Club; bridge club. Fraternity most co
reek letter society of male students: It c
[essional group not actually ~rgaruzed;
. Society, as compared here, 1s usu~llY. ;_
nally organized group with common mtei::
il. .
;let (sur'kllt) n. A small circle, esp. a ell'.
E. cerc/et < OFr., dim. of cerc/e, circle.]
~uit (si\r'klt) n. 1. a. A closed, usu.
The region enclosed by such a curve.
1te the complete traversal of which wit
direction requires returning to the start
t of following such a path or route. c. A
ch a path or route. 3. Elect. a. A clo~ed ·
pable of being followed by an ele
,uration of electrically or electro
~mponents or devices. 4. a. A r
mrse from place to place, as that
The area or district thus covered,
;e jurisdiction of a judi,e, in which
$Sions. 5. An assoc1at1on of theaters
r films move from theater to the
. An association of teams, clubs, or ar
-intr. & tr. v. ~cult•ed, -cuit•ing, wcuits.
ircuit of. [ME, circumference < OFr.
e be/ ffife/ ggag / hhat / hwwbich / , ..
1ot / 6 toe/ 6 paw, for/ oi noise/ ou_out
al'ound < circurnire, to go around : circum, around +
.] A . .
eaker n. . n automatic switch that stops the flow
current 1n a suddenly overloaded or otherwise
y stressed electric circuit.
urt n. In some states, the lowest court of record in
ces holding sessions in different places. '
us (sar-kyoo'I-tos) adj. Being or taking a round-
gthy course. [Med. Lat. cir,uitosus < Lat. circuitus,
dund. -see CIRCUIT.] -clr·cu'i-tous•ly adv. -cir·
-Cu'Mous•ness n.
er n. A clergyman who travels from church to
a district, esp. a rural district.
'(sµ~-tre) n. 1. "Ifle desi~n of or d_etailed plan for
.circuit. 2. Electnc circuits collecllvely.
.sur'kyo-lar) adj. 1. Of. or pertaining to a circle.
like or nearly like a circle; round. 3. Moving in or
circle. 4. Circuitous; indirect; roundabout.
y reasoning in a circle: a circular theory. 6. Ad-
is!t;iouted to a large number of persons. -n. A
ertisement, directive, or notice intended for
tion. -clr'cu•lar'My (-lar'i-te) n. -cir'cu•lar•ly
· n: Slang. A wastebasket.
tiorl n. Trigonometric function.
(sftt'kya-la-riz') tr. v. ·I zed, ·lz·lng, -iz·es. To
"'Circulars. -clr'cu·lar•l•za'tion n. -cir'cu•lar•
~u·re n. The measure of an angle in radians.
iXn electric saw consisting of a toothed disk
'speed.
, ky~~lftt') v. -Jat•ed, -laNng, -lates. -intr.
1r flow ~ough a circle or circuit: blood cir-
body. 2. To move around, as from per-
·ce to plac~: a gt4.est circulating at a party.
or flow freely; be diffused, as air. 4. To
ng persons or places; disse9llnate: Ru-
te quickly. -tr. To cause to move about
·at. circulare,. circulat-, to make round <
cus, circle.] -cir'cu•la'tive (-lii'tiv) adj.
lr'cu•la•tor'y (-lo-tor'e, -tor'e) adj.
I n. A repeating decimal.
ii. A lending library.
n. Currency or coin that can be ex-
thout endorsement.
.::}a'sh~n) n. 1. Movement in a circle or
ent of blood through bodily vessels as
puµiping action. 3. Movement or pas-
of vessels, as of water through pipes;
t or passage. 5. The passing of some-
-pr news, from place to place or from
The condition of being passed about
distribution. 7. a. The distribution of
. , Capies of newspapers or magazines,
_e number of copies of a publication
The system of structures by which
circulated throughout the body'.
; about: circum/unar. [Lat. < circum
1 '
k~m-am'be-ont) adj. Surrounding;
'bl•ence, clr'cum·am'bl•en·cy n.
tr.v. -clsed, -cls·lng, -cls•es. To
ale) or clitoris of (a female). [ME
cidere,. to cut around : circum-,
caedere, to cut.] -clr'cum•cis'er
sizh'~n) n. 1. The act of circumcis-
Ori.y in which someone is circu:rh-
A church festival celebrated on
.the circumcision of Jesus.
diik'shan) n. The movement of a
·.,d.of the limb delineates an arc.
ading around < circumducere, to
a ( < circus, circle) + ducere, to
for,,n_s) n. 1. The boundary line
line of a closed curvilinear
h of such a boundary. [ME <
cumferre, to carry around :
) + ferre; to carry. J -cir·
A mark (-) used over a
phonetic keys to indicate
·. 1. Marked with a circum-
,fiex blood vessel. [Lat. cir-
p.part of circumjlectere, to
. (< circus, circle) + jlectere,
tr. v. -fused, -tus•lng, -fus·es.
,; ' spread. 2. To surround, as
"!f:'mfundere, circumfus- : cir-
t+ fundere, to pour.] -cir'-
1 - -
prolix and indirect language. 2. Evasion in speech or writ-
ing. 3. A roundabout expression. [ME circumlocucioun <
Lat. circumlocut~o : circum- around ( < circus, circle) + loqui,
to speak.] -cir'cum·loc'u·to'rHy (-lok'yo-tor'o-le, -tor'-)
f:dv. -clr'cum•loc'u•to'ry (-lOk'ya-tOr'e, -t6r'e) adj.
c1r·cum•l1:1·nar (sU.r'kdm-lOo'ndr) adj. Revolving about or
surrounding the moon.
cir·cum•nav+gat~ (sO.r'k;)m-niiv'f-giit') tr. v. -gat·ed, -gat·
Ing, -gates. To sail completely around. -cir'cum-nav'i•ga'-
tion n. -cir'cum•nav'l·ga'tor n.
cir•cum·nu•tate (sOr'kam-nOo'tat', -nyOo'-) intr.v. -tat-ed,
-tat•lng; -tates. Bot. To grow or move with an irregular ellip-
tical or spiral motion. [CIRCUM- + Lat. nutare nutat- to
sway.] -cir'cum•nu•ta'tion n. ' '
cir•cum-po•lar (si\r'kam-po'lar) adj. 1. Located or found in
one of the polar regions. 2. Astron. Designating a star that
from a given observer's latitude does not go below the hori-
zon.
cir·cum•ro·tate . (sOr'kdm-r61tat') intr. v. -tat·ed, -tat-ing,
-tates. To tum like a wheel; revolve. -cir'cum•ro•ta'tion n.
:-clr'cum•ro'ta•to'ry (·td-tOr'e, -t6r'e) adj.
c1r·c~m·scis•sile (si\r'kam-sis'al, -Il') adj. Bot. Splitting or
operung along a transverse circular hne: a circumscissile seed
capsule. [ CIRCUM- + Lat. scissi!is, able to be split < scindere
to split.] '
cir•cum•scribe -(sllr'k;n~-skrib') tr. v. -scribed, -scrib•fng,
-s.cri~es. 1. To draw a line around; encircle. 2. To confine
-.yithin bounds; restrict. 3. To determine the limits of; de-
fme._ 4. a .. To endose (a polygon or polyhedron) within a
configuration of lines, .cu~es? o~ surfaces so that every ver-
t~x of !he enclosed obJect 1s mc1dent on the enclosing con-
figu~at10n.. b. To be erected as such an enclosing
configurat10n. [ME circumscriben < Lat. circumscribere : cir-
cum-, around(< circus, circle) + scribere, to write.] -cir'-
cum·scrib'a•ble ad/ -cir'cum·scrib'er n.
ci~·cum·sc::rip•tion (si\r'kam-skrip'shan) n. 1. a. The act of
crrcumscn~mg. b. The state of being circumscribed.
2. ~o~ething that cir<;:umscri?es. ~- ~ circumscribed space;
a linuted area. 4. A circular mscnption, as on a medallion.
-clr'cum•scrlp'tive adj. -cir'cum·scrip'tive•ly adv.
cir•cu'!'•so•lar (sU.r'kam-s6'far) a4f. Revolving about or sur-
rounding the sun.
cir•cum•spect (si\r'kom-spekt') adj. Heedful of circum-
stances_ or cons~uenc~s; prudent. [ME < L_at. circumspec-
tus, p.part .. of circumsp1cere, to take heed : circum-, around
(< circus, circle) + specere, to look.] -cir'cum-spec'tion n.
-cir'cum•spect'ly adv.
cir·cu~·stance (sU.r'kam-st.lns') n. 1. A condition or fact
attell:ffi?g an even~ ~d having some bearing upon it; a de-
ternnrung or modifying factor. 2. A condition or fact that
determines o_r must be considered in the determining of a
c~urse of action. 3. The sum of determining factors beyond
willful control: a victim of circumstance. 4. Often circum-
s~nces. Financial st~t~s or means: a man in comfortable
cz~cumstances. 5. _Additional or accessory information; de-
tail. 6. Formal display; ceremony:_pomp and circumstance.
-:tr. v. -stanced, -stanc·.i~g, ~sta~c·es. To place in particular
circumstances or cond1hons; situate. -idioms. under no
clrcumstan~s. In no case;.1?-ever. under (or in) the circum-
stances. Given these cond1t10ns; such being the case. [ME
<. OFr. < Lat. circumstantia < circumstare, to-stand around :
<;1rcum-~ around (< Lat. circus, circle) + stare, to stand.]
cir•cum•stan•lial (si\r'kam-stiin'shal) adj. 1. Of, pertaining
t