In 6 cercumferens, cyrcompherence. [a. F. circonférence, or ad. L. circumferentia (also linea circumferens), f. circum round, about + fer-re to bear. The literal sense in L. would have been ‘a bearing (of anything) about’; but the word arose as a late literal transl. of Gr. περιφέρεια rotundity, outer surface, periphery, sb. of state f. περιφερής turning round, round, surrounding.]
1. The line that forms the encompassing boundary, esp. of anything of a rounded form; compass, circuit. spec. in Geom. The curved line that forms the boundary of a circle or other closed curve; also, rarely, the aggregate of the sides of a rectilineal figure; periphery.
1393. Gower, Conf., III. 90. The cercle and the circumference Of every thing unto the heven.
1413. Lydg., Pylgr. Sowle, V. i. (1859), 70. In the circumference of eueriche of these cercles, was sette a lytel Cercle.
1555. Eden, Decades W. Ind. (Arb.), 249. The Spanyardes and Portugales compased the hole circumference of the worlde.
1570. Billingsley, Euclid, I. def. xv. 3. A circle is a plaine figure, conteyned vnder one line, which is called a circumference.
1635. N. Carpenter, Geog. Del., I. iv. 77. The spokes of a wheel moue faster neere the circumference.
1806. Hutton, Course Math., I. 37. Of a Circular Ring, or … the Space included between the Circumferences of two Circles.
1884. Bower & Scott, De Bary’s Phaner. & Ferns, 309. It thus embraces … the whole circumference of the node.
b. Measure or distance round.
1555. Eden, Decades W. Ind. (Arb.), 225. Of greater circumference then the heade of a man.
1664. Power, Exp. Philos., I. 1. Two fair eyes … of the circumference of a spangle.
1718. Lady M. W. Montague, Lett., II. xlix. 65. Strabo calls Carthage forty miles in circumference.
1878. Huxley, Physiogr., 199. The circumference of the mass of land was nearly three miles.
2. In looser use: † a. A part of the circumference, an arc. Obs.
1656. trans. Hobbes’ Elem. Philos. (1839), 181. The crooked line which terminates the circle [is] the perimeter; and every part of that crooked line, a circumference or arch.
† b. The surface of a body having a circular or rounded section, e.g., a sphere, cylinder, etc. Obs.
1615. Crooke, Body of Man, 71. From the Center to the Circumference of the body.
1627. E. F., Hist. Edw. II. (1680), 28. In the circumference of his Brain he cannot finde a way to lead him out of this Labyrinth.
1704. Newton, Opticks, II. 24 (J.). The Colours which were seen at its apparent circumference by the obliquest rays.
1794. R. J. Sulivan, View Nat., I. 39. There is great heat in the bowels of the earth, which is constantly expanding from the centre to the circumference.
† c. Put for the whole circle. Obs. rare.
1667. Milton, P. L., I. 286. His ponderous shield … Behind him cast; the broad circumference Hung on his shoulders like the Moon.
3. gen. Compass, bound, enclosure.
1598. Shaks., Merry W., III. v. 113. To be compass’d like a good Bilbo in the circumference of a Pecke.
1720. Ozell, Vertot’s Rom. Rep., II. ix. 49. A Civil War raging within the very Circumference of her Walls.
1857. H. Reed, Lect. Eng. Poets, II. i. 249. Wrapped in the little circumference of a tuft of grass.
4. That which surrounds, environment. rare.
1643. Sir T. Browne, Relig. Med., I. § 51. Every devil is an Hell unto himselfe; he … needs not the misery of circumference to afflict him.
1825. Southey, Tale Paraguay, II. 11. A wide circumference of woodlands waste.
† 5. A circuit; a roundabout or circuitous course.
1547. Boorde, Introd. Knowl., 209. From Calys I haue set the cyrcuyte or the cercumferens of Europ … and am come to Calys agayn.
c. 1600[?]. Distracted Emp., V. iv. in Bullen, Old Pl. (1884), III. 259. What a lardge passage or cyrcompherence Theise prynces make to come unto the way Which lyes before theire nosses!
1647. H. More, Song of Soul, II. iii. III. xiv. Thus all things in distinct circumference Move about Him that satisfies them all.
1700. Luttrell, Brief Rel. (1857), IV. 720. He took a circumference, and came upon the back of their camp and surprized them.
† b. Roundabout process, ado about a thing.
1666. Third Advice Painter, 27. Some Pattents pass with less circumference.
1605. Thynne, Advocate, in Animadv., Introd. 111. Which [clemency] from the centre of your bounty doth spreade it self into the circumference of all orders of your subjectis.
a. 1711. Ken, Hymnotheo, Poet. Wks. 1721, III. 167. Grief the circumference was, the centre joy.
1827. Pollok, Course T., IX. To send his glaring eye Beyond the wide circumference of his woe.
1872. Yeats, Techn. Hist. Comm., 430.
