Etymology Explorer › French

Where does “circonstance” come from?

circonstance (French) comes from Old French circonstance, from Latin circumstantia, from Latin circumstans, from Latin circumsto, from Latin circum-, from Latin circum, from Latin circus, from Ancient Greek κρίκος — dung, manure, filth; manure, dung, filth.

circonstance (French): circumstance

Definitions

  1. circumstance

Ancestry of “circonstance”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frenchcirconstance—
2Latincircumstantiasurrounding; encircling troops; circumstance
3Latincircumstanssurrounding, encircling
4LatincircumstoI stand around, or in a circle; I surround or...
5Latincircum-circum-
6Latincircumabout, around; in a circle, all around, on both...
7Latincircusa circular line or orbit; circle, ring; a...
8Ancient Greekκρίκοςring
9Proto-Indo-European(s)ḱer-dung, manure, filth; manure, dung, filth

Words derived from “circonstance”

  • circonstancier
  • circonstanciel
  • circumstanță
Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)ḱer- →