• (RP, New Zealand) IPA: /ˈsɜːkəmst(ə)ns/, /-ɑːns/, /-æns/
• (GA) IPA: /ˈsɝ.kəm.ˌstæns/

circumstance

1. That which attends, or relates to, or in some way affects, a fact or event; an attendant thing or state of things.
   • 1819, Washington Irving, The Broken Heart

     The circumstances are well known in the country where they happened.

2. An event; a fact; a particular incident.
   • 1834, David Crockett, A Narrative of the Life of, Nebraska 1987, p. 20:

     Then another circumstance happened, which made a lasting impression on my memory, though I was but a small child.

3. Circumlocution; detail.
   • c. 1599–1602, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358 ↗, [Act I, scene v]:

     So without more circumstance at all
     I hold it fit that we shake hands and part.

4. Condition in regard to worldly estate; state of property; situation; surroundings.
   • May 14 1716, Joseph Addison, The Freeloader No. 42

     When men are easy in their circumstances, they are naturally enemies to innovations.

• French: circonstance
• German: Umstand
• Italian: circostanza
• Portuguese: circunstância
• Russian: обстоя́тельство
• Spanish: circunstancia

• German: Umstand
• Italian: dettaglio
• Portuguese: circunstância
• Russian: обстоя́тельство
• Spanish: circunstancia

• Italian: circonlocuzione
• Portuguese: circunstância
• Russian: дета́ль

• Portuguese: circunstância
• Russian: материа́льное положе́ние

circumstance (circumstances, present participle circumstancing; past and past participle circumstanced)

1. To place in a particular situation, especially with regard to money or other resources.