circum-
(Latin: around, about, surrounding, closed curve, circling, circular on all sides; literally, "in a circle")
2. Etymology: from Latin circumjacens, circumjacent-; from circumjacere, "to lie around"; from circum-, "round, around" + jacere, "to lie".
2. An evasion in speech or writing instead of speaking or writing directly to the point: Mr. Hill, the principal, usually used indirect statements or circumlocutions when the teachers asked him specific questions about what to do in certain situations while teaching.
3. A roundabout or indirect way of expressing oneself: Mrs. Thompson told her student, “Now, no more circumlocution, let me know exactly what you want to tell me.”
4. A description of a person who is using long words; especially, when verbal construction utilizing less amplification might represent a more naturally efficacious phraseology: Billy's use of circumlocution lengthened his report to his teacher; however, it resulted in his having a lower grade.
Now, we are going to try vis medicatrix naturae* during your final days in the hospital.
Go to this Word A Day Revisited Index
so you can see more of Mickey Bach's cartoons.
The noncircumlocutional title is, "All’s Well That Ends Well."
Mother, do you have the audacity to doubt my veracity and to insinuate that I prevaricate when I am as pure and undefiled as the icicles that hang from a church steeple?
2. An expression of something in more words than are necessary.
A cartoon's expressions of being circumlocutory
Hobbes: How are you doing on your new year's resolutions?
Calvin: I didn't make any. See, in order to improve oneself, one must have some idea of what's "good". That implies certain values. But as we all know, values are relative. Every system of belief is equally valid and we need to tolerate diversity. Virtue isn't "better" than vice. It's just different.
Hobbes: I don't know if I can tolerate that much tolerance.
Calvin: I refuse to be victimized by notions of virtuous behavior.
2. Characteristic of surrounding the moon.
2. Pertaining to the capability of making the circuit of by navigation: The earth is circumnavigable if one has the right aircraft.
3. Concerning the possibility of going or maneuvering around: Ted had to find a circumnavigable way to get through the heavy downtown traffic.
2. To move around by walking, driving, etc.
A man is striving to circumnavigate a stone structure in an effort to get away from the threatening sharks.
2. Sailing all the way around something.
3. Moving around something in order to avoid hitting it.
4. A satellite or small body in orbit around a larger body; such as, the earth or another celestial body.
Two examples of circumnavigation on the earth and in outer space.
2. A person who flies or sails around; such as, the world, an island, or other situation.