Latin · prefix
circum-
around, on all sides
Forms
- circum-
- circu- — A shortened Latin form before some following vowels.
Origin
Latin circus, ‘circle; ring’; its more remote ancestry is uncertain.
Note
Going around something can suggest either enclosing it or avoiding it.
Words sharing this root
circuitA connected route returning to its starting point.circuitA district or division within a court system.circumciseTo remove the foreskin from a penis.circumciseTo ritually cut away tissue from the external female genitals.circumcisionRemoval of the foreskin from a penis.circumferenceThe distance around a circle or rounded object.circumnavigateTo travel all the way around something.circumspectCareful to consider possible consequences before acting.circumspectionCareful attention to risks and consequences before acting.circumstanceFormal ceremony surrounding an event.circumstanceA fact or condition that affects a situation.circumventTo find a clever way around something that blocks or restricts you.