circle

circle
\ \ [14] Etymologically, a circle is a ‘small ring’. The word comes ultimately from Latin circus (source of course of English circus and of a host of circle-related words), whose diminutive form was circulus. This was actually borrowed into English in Old English times, as circul, but this died out. Modern English circle came via Old French cercle, and to begin with was thus spelled in English, but in the 16th century the Latin i was reintroduced. Latin derivatives include the adjective circulāris, source of English circular [15], and the verb circulāre, whose past participle gave English circulate [15].
\ \ Cf.CIRCULATE, CIRCUS, SEARCH

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

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  • Circle — Cir cle (s[ e]r k l), n. [OE. cercle, F. cercle, fr. L. circulus (Whence also AS. circul), dim. of circus circle, akin to Gr. kri kos, ki rkos, circle, ring. Cf. {Circus}, {Circum }.] [1913 Webster] 1. A plane figure, bounded by a single curve… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Circle — Circle, September 1899 Lage in Alaska …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • circle — [sʉr′kəl] n. [ME cercle < OFr < L circulus, a circle, dim. of circus: see CIRCUS] 1. a plane figure bounded by a single curved line, every point of which is equally distant from the point at the center of the figure: see CONIC SECTION,… …   English World dictionary

  • Circle X — Origin Louisville, Kentucky, USA Genres No Wave Art rock Years active 1978–1995 Labels Matador Records …   Wikipedia

  • Circle — Cir cle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Circled}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Circling}.] [OE. cerclen, F. cercler, fr. L. circulare to make round. See {Circle}, n., and cf. {Circulate}.] [1913 Webster] 1. To move around; to revolve around. [1913 Webster] Other… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Circle — Circle, AK U.S. Census Designated Place in Alaska Population (2000): 100 Housing Units (2000): 42 Land area (2000): 107.672614 sq. miles (278.870779 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.540092 sq. miles (1.398832 sq. km) Total area (2000): 108.212706 sq …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Circle — Жанры краут рок психоделический рок пост рок экспериментальный рок Годы 1991 наши дни …   Википедия

  • Circle D — KC Estates, TX U.S. Census Designated Place in Texas Population (2000): 2010 Housing Units (2000): 847 Land area (2000): 9.274671 sq. miles (24.021286 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.034981 sq. miles (0.090601 sq. km) Total area (2000): 9.309652 sq …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Circle D, TX — Circle D KC Estates, TX U.S. Census Designated Place in Texas Population (2000): 2010 Housing Units (2000): 847 Land area (2000): 9.274671 sq. miles (24.021286 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.034981 sq. miles (0.090601 sq. km) Total area (2000):… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • circle — ► NOUN 1) a round plane figure whose boundary consists of points equidistant from the centre. 2) a group of people or things forming a circle. 3) a curved upper tier of seats in a theatre. 4) a group of people with a shared profession, interests …   English terms dictionary

  • Circle — Cir cle, v. i. To move circularly; to form a circle; to circulate. [1913 Webster] Thy name shall circle round the gaping through. Byron. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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