circumscribe

• POS: Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: cir=cum=scribe

CIDE DICTIONARY

circumscribe, v. t. [L. circumscribere, -scriptum; circum + scribere to write, draw. See Soribe.].

•  to write or engrave around.  [1913 Webster]

  "Thereon is circumscribed this epitaph."  [1913 Webster]
•  To inclose within a certain limit; to hem in; to surround; to bound; to confine; to restrain.  [1913 Webster]

  "To circumscribe royal power."  [1913 Webster]
•  To draw a line around so as to touch at certain points without cutting. See Inscribe, 5.

Syn. -- To bound; limit; restrict; confine; abridge; restrain; environ; encircle; inclose; encompass.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

circumscribe, v.tr.
1 (of a line etc.) enclose or outline.
2 lay down the limits of; confine, restrict.
3 Geom. draw (a figure) round another, touching it at points but not cutting it (cf. INSCRIBE).

Derivative

circumscribable adj. circumscriber n. circumscription n.

Etymology

L circumscribere (as CIRCUM-, scribere script- write)

THESAURUS

circumscribe

abate, abbreviate, adjust to, alter, assuage, bar, bound, box, box in, box up, circle in, coarct, compact, compress, concentrate, condense, condition, confine, consolidate, constrict, constringe, contract, cramp, curtail, decrease, define, delimit, delimitate, demarcate, determine, diminish, divide, draw, draw in, draw together, enclose, fetter, fix, hamper, hedge, hedge about, hem, hem in, keep from spreading, keep within bounds, knit, lay off, leaven, limit, localize, mark boundaries, mark off, mark out, mark the periphery, mitigate, moderate, modify, modulate, narrow, palliate, pucker, pucker up, purse, qualify, reduce, regulate by, restrain, restrict, rope off, season, separate, set conditions, set limits, set the limit, shorten, soften, solidify, specify, stake out, stint, strangle, strangulate, surround, temper, tighten, trammel, wrinkle

ROGET THESAURUS

circumscribe

Prohibition

VB prohibit, inhibit, forbid, put one's veto upon, disallow, enjoin, ban, outlaw, taboo, proscribe, estop, bar, debar, forefend, keep in, keep within bounds, restrain, cohibit, withhold, limit, circumscribe, clip the wings of, restrict, interdict, taboo, put under an interdiction, place under an interdiction, put under the ban, place under the ban, proscribe, exclude, shut out, shut the door, bolt the door, show the door, warn off, dash the cup from one's lips, forbid the banns.

Contraction

VB become small, become smaller, lessen, decrease, grow less, dwindle, shrink, contract, narrow, shrivel, collapse, wither, lose flesh, wizen, fall away, waste, wane, ebb, decay, be smaller than, fall short of, not come up to, render smaller, lessen, diminish, contract, draw in, narrow, coarctate, boil down, constrict, constringe, condense, compress, squeeze, corrugate, crimp, crunch, crush, crumple up, warp, purse up, pack, squeeze, stow, pinch, tighten, strangle, cramp, dwarf, bedwarf, shorten, circumscribe, restrain, (subtraction) 38 abrade, pare, reduce, attenuate, rub down, scrape, file, file down, grind, grind down, chip, shave, shear, wear down.

Circumscription

VB circumscribe, limit, bound, confine, inclose, surround, compass about, imprison, hedge in, wall in, rail in, fence round, fence in, hedge round, picket, corral, enfold, bury, encase, incase, pack up, enshrine, inclasp, wrap up, embay, embosom, containment (inclusion).

Inclosure

VB inclose, circumscribe.