From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Circumscribe \Cir'cum*scribe"\, verb (used with an object) [imp. & p. p. {Circumscribed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Circumscribing}.] [L. circumscribere, -scriptum; circum + scribere to write, draw. See {Soribe}.]
1. to write or engrave around. [R.]
Thereon is circumscribed this epitaph. --Ashmole.
2. To inclose within a certain limit; to hem in; to surround; to bound; to confine; to restrain.
To circumscribe royal power. --Bancroft.
3. (Geom.) To draw a line around so as to touch at certain points without cutting. See {Inscribe}, 5.
Syn: To bound; limit; restrict; confine; abridge; restrain; environ; encircle; inclose; encompass.
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
verb
1: draw a line around; "He drew a circle around the points"
2: restrict or confine, "I limit you to two visits to the pub a day" [syn: {limit}, {confine}]
3: to draw a geometric figure around another figure so that the two are in contact but do not intersect
From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:
87 Moby Thesaurus words for "circumscribe": abate, abbreviate, adjust to, alter, assuage, bar, bound, box, box in, box up, circle in, coarct, compact, compress, concentrate, condense, condition, confine, consolidate, constrict, constringe, contract, cramp, curtail, decrease, define, delimit, delimitate, demarcate, determine, diminish, divide, draw, draw in, draw together, enclose, fetter, fix, hamper, hedge, hedge about, hem, hem in, keep from spreading, keep within bounds, knit, lay off, leaven, limit, localize, mark boundaries, mark off, mark out, mark the periphery, mitigate, moderate, modify, modulate, narrow, palliate, pucker, pucker up, purse, qualify, reduce, regulate by, restrain, restrict, rope off, season, separate, set conditions, set limits, set the limit, shorten, soften, solidify, specify, stake out, stint, strangle, strangulate, surround, temper, tighten, trammel, wrinkle
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