Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1300-1400
Language: Latin
Origin: circumscribere, from circum- ( CIRCUM-) + scribere 'to write, draw'

circumscribe

 verb
     
Related topics: Maths
cir‧cum‧scribe [transitive]
1 [often passive] formal to limit power, rights, or abilities [= restrict]:
The President's power is circumscribed by Congress and the Supreme Court.
2HM technical to draw a line around something:
a circle circumscribed by a square
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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