noun · masculinesecond declension
circulus
circulus m (genitive circulī)
Classical[ˈkɪr.kʊ.ɫʊs]Ecclesiastical[ˈt͡ʃir.ku.lus]
Meaning
- masculinecircle (geometric figure)
- masculineorbit (circular path)
- masculinering; hoop
- masculinenecklace; chain
- masculinecompany; social gathering; group
- Medieval Latinmasculinea calendrical cycle
Huius sexto anno primus Dionisi circulus inchoat
In the sixth year of which [reign], the first cycle of Dionysius begins. — Bede, Chronica Minora
Choosing the right word Döderlein's Latin Synonyms
Orbis · Circulus · Gyrus
Orbis (from ῥαιβός) denotes a circular motion, and the periphery described by it; whereas circulus denotes a circular level; lastly, gyrus (from γυρός) a curved, and especially a serpentine line. The phrase in orbem consistere could not be changed into in circulum, and a limited social circle, circulus, could not be expressed by orbis. Tac. G. 6. Equi nec variare gyros nostrum in modum docentur; in rectum aut uno flexu dextros agunt, ita conjuncto orbe ut nemo posterior sit. (v. 182.)
Declension
| form | singular | plural |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | circulus | circulī circlī |
| genitive | circulī circlī | circulōrum circlōrum |
| dative | circulō circlō | circulīs circlīs |
| accusative | circulum circlum | circulōs circlōs |
| ablative | circulō circlō | circulīs circlīs |
| vocative | circule circle | circulī circlī |
circŭlus, i, m. (contr. circlus, like vinclum = vinculum, Verg. G. 3, 166) [kindred with κίρκος, κύκλος, circinus],
I. a circular figure, a circle: circulus aut orbis, qui κύκλος Graece dicitur, Cic. N. D. 2, 18, 47:
muri exterior, Liv. 36, 9, 12: circulus ad speciem caelestis arcūs orbem solis ambiit, Suet. Aug. 95.—B. Esp.
1. In astronomy, a circular course, orbit:
stellae circulos suos orbesque conficiunt celeritate mirabili, Cic. Rep. 6, 15, 15: aequinoctialis, solstitialis, septentrionalis, Varr. L. L. 9, § 24; Ov. M. 2, 516: lacteus, the Milky Way, Plin. 2, 25, 23, § 91; 18, 29, 69, § 230: signifer, Vitr. 6, 1, 1; 9, 8, 8.—2. In geog., a zone or belt of the eartb's surface:
plura sunt segmenta mundi, quae nostri circulos appellavere, Graeci parallelos, Plin. 6, 34, 39, § 212 sqq.—II. Meton.
A. Any circular body; a ring, necklace, hoop, chain, Verg. A. 5, 559; 10, 138; id. G. 3, 166; Plin. 14, 21, 27, § 132; Suet. Aug 80.—
B. A circle or company for social intercourse (very freq.):
in conviviis rodunt, in circulis vellicant, Cic. Balb. 26, 57; so with convivia also, Liv. 32, 20, 3; 34, 61, 5; 44, 22, 8; Domit. Mars. ap. Quint. 6, 3, 105; Tac. A. 3, 54; Nep. Epam. 3, 3; Mart. 2, 86, 11; 10, 62, 5: cir culos aliquos et sessiunculas consectarl, Cic. Fin. 5, 20, 56 per fora et circulos locuti sunt, Tac Agr 43; cf Quint. 12, 10, 74: quemcumque patrem familias arripuissetis ex aliquo circulo, Cic. de Or. 1, 34, 159; 1, 38, 174: de circulo se subducere, to withdraw from the assembly, id. Q. Fr. 3, 4, 1; Quint. 2, 12 10; cf.: densa circumstantium corona latissimum judicium multiplici circulo ambibat, Plin. Ep 6, 33, 3.Charlton Lewis's shorter dictionary for students: the same scholarship in plain, modern definitions.
circulus ī (acc plur. circlos, V.), m dim.
circus, a circular figure, circle: qui κύκλος Graece dicitur: muri exterior, L.—Esp., in astronomy, a circular course, orbit: stellae circulos suos conficiunt: ubi circulus axem ambit, i. e. at the pole, O. —A circle, ring, necklace, hoop, chain: Flexilis obtorti auri, V.: crinīs subnectit auro, V. — A circle, company, social gathering: in circulis vellicant: in circulum, N.: circulos consectari: per circulos locuti sunt, Ta.: sermones serentium, L.
Origins
From circus + -ulus.
Southern Gallo-Romance
- Catalancercle
- Catalancèrcol
- Occitancerclefrom Old Occitan cercle
- Occitanceuclefrom Old Occitan cercle
- Aragonesecerclo
→ Iberia
- Portuguesecírculo
- Spanishcírculo
- Catalancírcolfrom Spanish círculo
- Asturiancírculu
- Basquezirkulu
- Galiciancírculo
→ Italy and environs
- Italiancircolo
- Sardiniancírculu
- Sardiniantzírculu
- Dalmatiancircol
- Friuliancircul
- Romanshcircul
Northern Gallo-Romance
- Frenchcerclefrom Old French cercle
- Englishcirclefrom Old French cercle
- Franco-Provençalcercllo
- Haitian Creolesèkfrom Old French cercle
- Normancèrcl'yefrom Old French cercle
- Wallooncekefrom Old French cercle
- Scotscirclefrom Old French cercle
Italo-Romance
- Italiancerchio
- Aromaniantsercljufrom Italian cerchio
- Aromaniantserchiufrom Italian cerchio
- Aromaniantserkiufrom Italian cerchio
- Siciliancirchiu
- Sicilianchirchiu
- Tuscanchiercio
Insular Romance
- Sardinianchìlciu
→ Germany and environs
- GermanZirkel
- Afrikaanssirkel
- Danishcirkel
- Dutchcirkel
- Ladinzirtlfrom German Zirkel
- Pannonian Rusynциркельfrom German Zirkel
- Russianциркульfrom German Zirkel
- Limburgishcirkel
- Norwegiansirkel
- Swedishcirkel
Padanian
- Friuliancercli
- Liguriançèrcio
- Lombardsercc
- Piedmontesesercc
- Romanshtschierchel
- Venetancercio
- Venetansercio
- Venetansércio
Ancient borrowings
- Albanianqarkull
- Basquecurcuru
- Old Welshcirchlfrom Proto-Brythonic *kɨrxl
- Bretonkelc'hfrom Proto-Brythonic *kɨrxl
- Cornishkylghfrom Proto-Brythonic *kɨrxl
- Welshcylchfrom Proto-Brythonic *kɨrxl
- Cumbrickelchynfrom Proto-Brythonic *kɨrxl