early 13c., "conditions surrounding and accompanying an event," from Old French circonstance "circumstance, situation," also literally, "outskirts" (13c., Modern French circonstance), from Latin circumstantia "surrounding condition," neuter plural of circumstans (genitive circumstantis), present participle of circumstare "stand around, surround, encompass, occupy, take possession of" from circum "around" (see circum-) + stare "to stand" from PIE root *sta- "to stand" (see stet). The Latin word is a loan-translation of Greek peristasis.
Meaning "a person's surroundings, environment" is from mid-14c. Meaning "a detail" is from c. 1300; sense of "that which is non-essential" is from 1590s. Obsolete sense of "formality about an important event" (late 14c.) lingers in Shakespeare's phrase pomp and circumstance ("Othello" III, iii).
雙語例句
1. You might say that we've been victims of circumstance.
你可以說我們一直不走運吧。
來自柯林斯例句
2. There are those, you know, who, by circumstance, end up homeless.
您知道，會有那麽一些人，因為命運捉弄而落得無家可歸。
來自柯林斯例句
3. Any unexpected circumstance that arises may catalyze a sudden escalation of violence.
任何突如其來的情況都可能造成暴力驟然升級。
來自柯林斯例句
4. You should soon accommodate yourself to the new circumstance.
你應盡快適應新環境.
來自《簡明英漢詞典》
5. There is one important circumstance you have not mentioned.