v. Now rare. [ad. L. circumvolvĕre to roll round (trans.).]
1. trans. a. To turn, roll or whirl (a thing) round on its axis or center.
1647. Herrick, Upon Mr. Fletcher’s Plays. Whene’ere we circumvolve our eyes.
1677. R. Cary, Chronol., I. I. § 1. ii. 6. The whole Sphere being circumvolved once every day.
1822. T. Taylor, Apuleius, 199. I had frequently seen machines similarly circumvolved.
b. To turn or move (a thing) round in a circular path. rare.
1610. Histrio-m., I. 230. The flye … Shall sundry times be circumvolv’d about.
1839–54. Bailey, Festus (ed. 3), 173. Planets, and moons … circumvolved Each round the other.
2. intr. a. To turn round or revolve on an axis or center; to rotate; also fig. of time, etc.
1626. T. H[awkins], trans. Caussin’s Holy Crt., 202. To make dayes, and tymes, still to circumvolue.
1713. Derham, Phys. Theol., I. v. 33. The Terraqueous Globe … which circumvolves at the rate of above 1000 Miles an Hour.
1791. E. Darwin, Loves of Plants, II. 104. And slowly circumvolves the labouring wheel below.
b. To revolve in a circular path or orbit. rare.
1841. Borrow, Zincali (1843), I. ii. 65. [Sparks] expire gracefully circumvolving.
1858. Chamb. Jrnl., X. 194. Round whom everybody else is perpetually circumvolving.
† 3. To wind, fold, wrap or twist round:
† a. a string, a cloth, etc., round something.
1599. A. M., trans. Gabelhouer’s Bk. Physicke, 7/1. Madefy certayn cloutes … and circumvolve the same rounde aboute his heade.
1729. Shelvocke, Artillery, V. 333. Circumvolving or wrapping the base of it … round the … Cylinder.
† b. something (e.g., the body) with a string, a cloth, or the like: to enwrap, envelop, involve, encompass. Also fig.
1607. Dekker, Wh. Babylon, Wks. 1873, II. 254. Doe seruile clowdes, Our glorious body circumvolue?
1611. Tourneur, Ath. Trag., IV. iii. O were my body circumuolu’d Within that cloud.
1634. Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 61. By reason of abundance of high Pyramidall Cypresse-trees, circumuoluing the Towne, it seemes, a Garden.
absol. 1648. Herrick, Hesper., On Black Twist. Of blackest silk a curious twist Which circumvolving gently there Enthrall’d her arme.
1704. Leeuwenhoek, in Phil. Trans., XXV. 1727. The Fibrous Substance which here does first Circumvolve from the Middle point.
fig. 1611. Heywood, Golden Age, III. i. Wks. 1874, III. 38. Circumuolu’d With multiplicity of distempratures. Ibid., Fortune by Land & S., III. i. Ibid. VI. 401. With … heart circumvolved in woe.
1649. G. Daniel, Trinarch. Rich. II., cclxxv. An abhor’d Stupor doth Circumvolue vs.
1824. H. Campbell, Love Lett. Mary Q. Scots, 61. When dangers circumvolved my Bothwell round.
Hence Circumvolved, Circumvolving ppl. adjs.
1668. Culpepper & Cole, Barthol. Anat., I. xix. 51/1. Between the proper Membrane of the Bladder, and its circumvolved Muscle.
1677. Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 169 (T.). A defensive wall, so high as hinders … the affrighting sight of a circumvolving Wilderness.
