Circumstant

/ˌsɜːkəmˈstænt/ adjective

Definition

Surrounding, bordering, or standing around something; adjacent or nearby.

Etymology

From Latin circumstans, present participle of circumstare 'to stand around.' The word combines circum- (around) and -stant (standing), literally meaning 'standing around.'

Kelly Says

This is a delightfully archaic word that you almost never hear anymore, but it perfectly describes how ancient peoples thought about space—not as empty void but as things standing around other things. Medieval manuscripts use it to describe 'circumstant nations' bordering a kingdom.

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