Definition of: circumstance

(sûr′kəm·stans) noun
1. Something existing or occurring incidentally to some other fact or event; a related or concomitant act or thing; an accessory detail.
2. An event, happening, or fact, especially if incidental or subordinate: a circumstance in English history.
3. plural The surrounding facts, means, influences, etc., especially as related to one's support and way of living.
4. Environment: He is the victim of circumstance; also, environment with reference to state or condition resulting from adventitious surroundings.
5. That which is unessential or of no account; detail; circumstantiality.
6. Archaic Formal show or display; ceremony; pomp.
—under no circumstances Never; under no conditions.
—under the circumstances Since such is the case; things being as they are or were.
—v.t. ·stanced, ·stanc·ing
1. To place in or under limiting circumstances or conditions: chiefly in past participle.
2. Obs. To set forth circumstantially; relate with details. [<OF <L circumstantia <circumstare <circum- around + stare stand] Synonyms (noun): accompaniment, concomitant, detail, event, fact, feature, incident, item, occurrence, particular, point, position, situation. A circumstance is something existing or occurring in connection with or relation to some other fact or event, modifying or throwing light upon the principal matter without affecting its essential character; an accompaniment is something that unites with the principal matter, but is not necessary to it; as, the piano accompaniment to a song; a concomitant goes with a thing in natural connection, but in a subordinate capacity, or perhaps in contrast. A circumstance is not strictly, nor usually, an occasion, condition, effect, or result. Nor is the circumstance properly an incident. All the circumstances make up the situation. Compare ACCIDENT, CAUSE, EVENT.