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ely formal, since there is no direct evidence that is not circumstantial, or dependent on circumstances for its credibility. Wharton. -- Direct examination (Law), the first examination of a witness in the orderly course, upon the merits. Abbott. -- Direct fire (Mil.), fire, the direction of which is perpendicular to…

Deprivation of advantage; unfavorable or prejudicial quality, condition, circumstance, or the like; that which hinders success, or causes loss or injury. I was brought here under the disadvantage of being unknown by sight to any of you. Burke. Abandoned by their great patron, the faction henceforward acted at disadvant…

Estimation of difference; regard to differences or distinguishing circumstance. Maids, women, wives, without distinction, fall. Dryden.

e completed; to be through with; to have no further concern with. -- Well to do, in easy circumstances.

r bring to a point or state; as, to drive person by necessity, by persuasion, by force of circumstances, by argument, and the like. " Enough to drive one mad." Tennyson. He, driven to dismount, threatened, if I did not do the like, to do as much for my horse as fortune had done for his. Sir P. Sidney.…

Causing ease; giving freedom from care or labor; furnishing comfort; commodious; as, easy circumstances; an easy chair or cushion.

church; not secular; as, ecclesiastical affairs or history; ecclesiastical courts. Every circumstance of ecclesiastical order and discipline was an abomination. Cowper. Ecclesiastical commissioners for England, a permanent commission established by Parliament in 1836, to consider and report upon the affairs of the Est…

an effigy; hence, to fashion; to adapt. [He must] effigiate and conform himself to those circumstances. Jer. Taylor.

An unforeseen occurrence or combination of circumstances which calls for immediate action or remedy; pressing necessity; exigency. To whom she might her doubts propose, On all emergencies that rose. Swift. A safe counselor in most difficult emergencies. Brougham.

Considered as pure entity; abstracted from all circumstances. Ellis. -- En"ti*ta*tive*ly, adv.

he Roman Stoic philosopher, whose conception of life was to be passionless under whatever circumstances.

A figure by which one striking circumstance is added, in due gradation, to another; climax; e. g., "He not only spared his enemies, but continued them in employment; not only continued, but advanced them." Johnson.

or; to mistake in judgment or opinion; to be mistaken. The man may err in his judgment of circumstances. Tillotson.

Settled condition or form of existence; state; condition or circumstances of life or of any person; situation. "When I came to man's estate." Shak. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Romans xii. 16.

e little censurable, and to overlook; as, we excuse irregular conduct, when extraordinary circumstances appear to justify it. I must excuse what can not be amended. Shak.

forward; hence, tending to further or promote a proposed object; fit or proper under the circumstances; conducive to self-interest; desirable; advisable; advantageous; -- sometimes contradistinguished from right. It is expedient for you that I go away. John xvi. 7. Nothing but the right can ever be expedient, since th…

g facts without any attempt to influence the frequency of their occurrence or to vary the circumstances under which they occur; this is observation; or, secondly, by putting in action causes or agents over which we have control, and purposely varying their combinations, and noticing what effects take place; this is exp…

Not intrinsic nor essential; accidental; accompanying; superficial. The external circumstances are greatly different. Trench.

An effect produced or achieved; anything done or that comes to pass; an act; an event; a circumstance. What might instigate him to this devilish fact, I am not able to conjecture. Evelyn. He who most excels in fact of arms. Milton.

One of the elements, circumstances, or influences which contribute to produce a result; a constituent. The materal and dynamical factors of nutrition. H. Spencer.