Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary · 1913

circumstance

circumstance (sẽr"kum*stans) , noun

[Latin circumstantia, from circumstans, -antis, present participle of circumstare to stand around; circum + stare to stand. See Stand.]

1.
That which attends, or relates to, or in some way affects, a fact or event; an attendant thing or state of things.
The circumstances are well known in the country where they happened. — W. Irving
2.
An event; a fact; a particular incident.
The sculptor had in his thoughts the conqueror weeping for new worlds, or the like circumstances in history. — Addison
3.
Circumlocution; detail. [Obsolete]
So without more circumstance at all I hold it fit that we shake hands and part. — Shakespeare
4.
Condition in regard to worldly estate; state of property; situation; surroundings.
When men are easy in their circumstances, they are naturally enemies to innovations. — Addison
Collocations (2)
Not a circumstance , of no account. [Colloquial]
Under the circumstances , taking all things into consideration.

Circumstance , transitive verb

To place in a particular situation; to supply relative incidents.
The poet took the matters of fact as they came down to him and circumstanced them, after his own manner. — Addison