Search the Dictionary

s to, or in some way affects, a fact or event; an attendant thing or state of things. The circumstances are well known in the country where they happened. W. Irving.

d in a particular position or condition; situated. The proposition is, that two bodies so circumstanced will balance each other. Whewell.

er fit, suitable, or correspondent; to adapt; to conform; as, to accommodate ourselves to circumstances. "They accomodate their counsels to his inclination." Addison.

That which accompanies; something that attends as a circumstance, or which is added to give greater completeness to the principal thing, or by way of ornament, or for the sake of symmetry. Specifically: (Mus.)

Attached as an attribute or circumstance.

Any condition, circumstance, opportunity, or means, particularly favorable to success, or to any desired end; benefit; as, the enemy had the advantage of a more elevated position. Give me advantage of some brief discourse. Shak. The advantages of a close alliance. Macaulay.

to one's wishes; unfortunate; calamitous; afflictive; hurtful; as, adverse fates, adverse circumstances, things adverse. Happy were it for us all if we bore prosperity as well and wisely as we endure an adverse fortune. Southey. Adverse possession (Law), a possession of real property avowedly contrary to some claim of…

To incur, stand, or bear without serious detriment, as an act which might under other circumstances be injurious; -- with an auxiliary, as can, could, might, etc.; to be able or rich enough. The merchant can afford to trade for smaller profits. Hamilton. He could afford to suffer With those whom he saw suffer. Wordswor…

To give coloring to in description; to exaggerate; as, to aggravate circumstances. Paley.

Making worse or more heinous; as, aggravating circumstances.

An extrinsic circumstance or accident which increases the guilt of a crime or the misery of a calamity.

s (Fig.), to be on the same footing; to correspond (with) exactly; to be alike in all the circumstances to be considered. "This example is on all fours with the other." "No simile can go on all fours." Macaulay.

the principal subject is described by another subject resembling it in its properties and circumstances. The real subject is thus kept out of view, and we are left to collect the intentions of the writer or speaker by the resemblance of the secondary to the primary subject.

ed in varying proportion among the organisms themselves. Allelomorphs which under certain circumstances are themselves compound are called hypallelomorphs. See Mendel's law. -- Al*le`lo*mor"phic (#), a.

Abatement; deduction; the taking into account of mitigating circumstances; as, to make allowance for the inexperience of youth. After making the largest allowance for fraud. Macaulay.

A resemblance of relations; an agreement or likeness between things in some circumstances or effects, when the things are otherwise entirely different. Thus, learning enlightens the mind, because it is to the mind what light is to the eye, enabling it to discover things before hidden.

Semblance, or apparent likeness; external show. pl. Outward signs, or circumstances, fitted to make a particular impression or to determine the judgment as to the character of a person or a thing, an act or a state; as, appearances are against him. There was upon the tabernacle, as it were, the appearance of fire. Num.…

scribe or attribute; to affix; -- with to; as, to attach great importance to a particular circumstance. Top this treasure a curse is attached. Bayard Taylor.

An attendant circumstance. [Obs.] The uncomfortable attendments of hell. Sir T. Browne.

o suit or be suitable to; to be congruous with; to befit; to accord with, in character or circumstances; to be worthy of, or proper for; to cause to appear well; -- said of persons and things. It becomes me so to speak of so excellent a poet. Dryden. I have known persons so anxious to have their dress become them, as t…