Also 6 cyrcum-. [a. F. circonspect, or ad. L. circumspect-us considerate, wary, cautious, circumspect, properly pa. pple. of circumspicĕre to look around, take heed, consider; hence of things, ‘well-considered,’ transf. to persons ‘considerate, cautious,’ etc.]
1. Of things or actions: Marked by circumspection, showing caution, well-considered, cautious.
1422. Lydg., Coronation Hen. VI., in Ritson, Anc. Songs, 70. By circumspect advise.
1562. Act 5 Eliz., c. 21 § 1. If circumspect Remedy be not hereunto provided.
1709. Strype, Ann. Ref., Ep. Ded. 1. Circumspect and holy labours.
1847. Emerson, Poems, Monadnoc, Wks. (Bohn), I. 441. By circumspect ambition.
2. Of persons: Watchful on all sides, attentive to everything, cautious, heedful of all circumstances that may affect action or decision.
1430. Lydg., Chron. Troy, II. xvi. Circumspect in all his gouernance.
1494. Fabyan, VII. ccxlvi. 290. Which in all his faytes is so circumspecte.
1542. Boorde, Dyetary, xxiii. (1870), 287. Sanguyne men … must be cyrcumspect in eatynge of theyr meate.
1594. Shaks., Rich. III., IV. ii. 31. High-reaching Buckingham growes circumspect.
1624. Capt. Smith, Virginia, IV. 147. This will make vs more circumspect.
1728. Newton, Chronol. Amended, ii. 260. Herodotus was circumspect and faithful in his narrations.
1850. Prescott, Peru, II. 31. The wild passes … practicable … for the sure and circumspect mule.
1881. Besant & Rice, Chapl. of Fleet, I. 38. I was to be circumspect in my behaviour.
† b. with dependent sentence or clause. Obs.
1573. G. Harvey, Letter-bk. (1884), 2. As circumspect to se to mi self.
1658. W. Burton, Itin. Anton., 172. I have … been very scrupulous and circumspect what authorities I made use of.
† 3. Considered, respected. [late L. circumspectus.] Obs. rare.
1579. Twyne, Phisicke agst. Fortune, II. xxxii. 209 a. Then wylt thou be the more circumspect, and the better knowne.
