(v. a.P. a.adj.adv.) : circum-scrībo, psi, ptum, 3, v. a.
* Prop., to draw a line around, to circumscribe, enclose in a circle (in good prose; very freq. in Cic.): orbem,Cic. Fin. 5, 8, 23: lineas extremas umbrae,Quint. 10, 2, 7: virgulā stantem,Cic. Phil. 8, 8, 23: virgā regem,Liv. 45, 12, 5: aeneā fibulā pars auriculae latissima circumscribitur,Col. 6, 5, 4: terram surculo heliotropii,Plin. 22, 21, 29, § 60.
* Trop.
* To draw a line as the circumference of a thing (cf. Quint. 12, 10, 5), i. e. to define, encompass, enclose, lim it, bound, circumscribe (syn.: definio, describo, termino): nullis ut terminis (orator) circumscribat aut definiat jus suum,Cic. de Or. 1, 16, 70; cf.: genus universum brevi circumscribi et definiri potest,id. Sest. 45, 97: exiguum nobis vitae curriculum natura circumscripsit, immensum gloriae,id. Rab. Perd. 10, 30: quibus regionibus vitae spatium circumscriptum est,id. Arch. 11, 29: ante enim circumscribitur mente sententia confestimque verba concurrunt,id. Or. 59, 200: locum habitandi alicui,id. Par. 2, 18: Oceanus undique circumscribit omnes terras et ambit,Gell. 12, 13, 20: uti mihi dicas et quasi circumscribas verbis, quid homo sit,id. 4, 1, 12.
* To bring within narrow bounds, i. e. to contract, hem in, circumscribe, to hinder free action, to restrain, confine, limit, etc. (syn.: claudo, includo, coërceo).
* Esp., of the restrictions or hinderances imposed by one magistracy or authority upon another: Senatus credo praetorem eum circumscripsisset,Cic. Mil. 33, 88 (cf. just before: an consules in praetore coërcendo fortes fuissent),id. Att. 7, 9, 2; id. Phil. 13, 9, 19; Caes. B. C. 1, 32; Auct. ap. Quint. 9, 3, 72: ille se fluvio Rubicone et CC. milibus circumscriptum esse patiatur?Cic. Phil. 6, 3, 5: gulam et ventrem,Sen. Ep. 108, 14: circumscribere corpus et animo locum laxare,id. ib. 15, 2: laudes,id. Cons. ad Helv. 19, 7.
* To encircle or go around by writing = scribendo circumdare, i. e. to deceive, cheat, circumvent, entrap, insnare (syn.: circumvenio, decipio): fallacibus et captiosis interrogationibus circumscripti atque decepti,Cic. Ac. 2, 15, 46; Plin. 7, 40, 41, § 131; 33, 3, 14, § 48: non circumscribetur, qui ita se gesserit, ut dicat, etc., will not be deceived, i. e. will commit no error, Sen. Q. N. 5, 1, 3; id. Ep. 82, 19.
* In later medic. lang. circumscribi = minui, to abate, subside: gravedo circumscribitur,Cael. Aur. Tard. 5, 10; so id. Acut. 2, 10 fin.
* To cancel; to declare invalid, to annul, invalidate, void, set aside (cf. circumduco, II. D.): hoc omni tempore Sullano ex accusatione circumscripto,Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 16, § 43 (sublato, circumducto, praetermisso, Ascon.): circumscriptis igitur iis seutentiis, quas posui, etc.,id. Fin. 3, 9, 31.—Hence, circumscriptus, a, um, P. a.
* In law, to defeat the purpose of a law, a will, etc., by a forced or too literal interpretation: legem,Dig. 4, 3, 18 fin.: ita circumscripto testamento,Plin. Ep. 8, 18, 4; Front. Aquaed. 112: constitutiones, Lact. de Ira Dei, 8.
* Of circumlocution, to involve in language: oratio rem simplicem circumscribens elocutione,Auct. Her. 4, 32, 43; cf.: facetis jocis sacrilegium circumscribens,covering,Just. 39, 2, 5.
* (Acc. to II. A.) In rhet., rounded into periods, periodic: circumscripti verborum ambitus,Cic. Or. 12, 38; cf. Auct. Her. 4, 32, 43; Quint. 12, 10, 5, and v. circumscriptio.—Adv.: circum-scriptē, in periods: circumscripte numeroseque dicere,Cic. Or. 66, 221: circumscripte complecti singulas res. id. N. D. 2, 59, 147.
* (Acc. to II. B.) Restricted, limited: brevis et circumscripta quaedam explicatio,Cic. de Or. 1, 42, 189: (vis orationis) pressior et circumscriptior et adductior,Plin. Ep. 1, 16, 4.—Adv.: circum-scriptē, summarily: circumscripte et breviter ostendere,Lact. 5, 14, 8; 5, 9, 20. —Sup. of the adj., and comp. and sup. of the adv. not in use.

s. TLL