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|lshtext=<b>circum-scrībo</b>: psi, ptum, 3, v. a.<br /><b>I</b> Prop., to [[draw]] a [[line]] [[around]], to [[circumscribe]], [[enclose]] in a [[circle]] (in [[good]] [[prose]]; [[very]] freq. in Cic.): orbem, Cic. Fin. 5, 8, 23: lineas extremas umbrae, Quint. 10, 2, 7: virgulā stantem, Cic. Phil. 8, 8, 23: virgā regem, Liv. 45, 12, 5: aeneā fibulā [[pars]] auriculae latissima circumscribitur, Col. 6, 5, 4: terram [[surculo]] heliotropii, Plin. 22, 21, 29, § 60.—<br /><b>II</b> Trop.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>A</b> To [[draw]] a [[line]] as the [[circumference]] of a [[thing]] (cf. Quint. 12, 10, 5), i. e. to [[define]], [[encompass]], [[enclose]], lim it, [[bound]], [[circumscribe]] (syn.: [[definio]], [[describo]], [[termino]]): nullis ut terminis ([[orator]]) circumscribat aut definiat jus suum, Cic. de Or. 1, 16, 70; cf.: [[genus]] universum brevi circumscribi et definiri potest, id. Sest. 45, 97: exiguum nobis vitae [[curriculum]] [[natura]] circumscripsit, immensum gloriae, id. Rab. Perd. 10, 30: quibus regionibus vitae [[spatium]] circumscriptum est, id. Arch. 11, 29: [[ante]] [[enim]] circumscribitur mente [[sententia]] confestimque verba concurrunt, id. Or. 59, 200: locum habitandi alicui, id. Par. 2, 18: [[Oceanus]] [[undique]] circumscribit omnes terras et ambit, Gell. 12, 13, 20: uti mihi dicas et [[quasi]] circumscribas verbis, [[quid]] [[homo]] [[sit]], id. 4, 1, 12.—<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>B</b> To [[bring]] [[within]] [[narrow]] bounds, i. e. to [[contract]], [[hem]] in, [[circumscribe]], to [[hinder]] [[free]] [[action]], to [[restrain]], [[confine]], [[limit]], etc. (syn.: [[claudo]], [[includo]], coërceo).<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>(a)</b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Esp., of the restrictions or hinderances imposed by one [[magistracy]] or [[authority]] [[upon]] [[another]]: Senatus [[credo]] praetorem eum circumscripsisset, Cic. Mil. 33, 88 (cf. [[just]] [[before]]: an consules in praetore coërcendo fortes fuissent), id. Att. 7, 9, 2; id. Phil. 13, 9, 19; Caes. B. C. 1, 32; Auct. ap. Quint. 9, 3, 72: [[ille]] se fluvio Rubicone et CC. milibus circumscriptum esse patiatur? Cic. Phil. 6, 3, 5: gulam et ventrem, Sen. Ep. 108, 14: circumscribere [[corpus]] et [[animo]] locum laxare, id. ib. 15, 2: laudes, id. Cons. ad Helv. 19, 7.—<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>(b)</b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; In gen.: uno genere [[genus]] hoc aratorum, to [[comprehend]] in one [[class]], Cic. Verr. 2, 2, 61, § 149 Zumpt: totum Dionysium [[sex]] epitomis circumscripsit, [[abridged]], Col. 1, 1, 10: ut luxuriam vilitate circumscribamus, Plin. 22, 2, 3, § 4.—<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>2</b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; In [[later]] medic. lang. circumscribi = minui, to [[abate]], [[subside]]: [[gravedo]] circumscribitur, Cael. Aur. Tard. 5, 10; so id. Acut. 2, 10 fin.—<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>C</b> To [[encircle]] or go [[around]] by [[writing]] = scribendo circumdare, i. e. to [[deceive]], [[cheat]], [[circumvent]], [[entrap]], [[insnare]] (syn.: [[circumvenio]], [[decipio]]): fallacibus et captiosis interrogationibus circumscripti [[atque]] decepti, Cic. Ac. 2, 15, 46; Plin. 7, 40, 41, § 131; 33, 3, 14, § 48: non circumscribetur, qui ita se gesserit, ut dicat, etc., [[will]] not be deceived, i. e. [[will]] [[commit]] no [[error]], Sen. Q. N. 5, 1, 3; id. Ep. 82, 19.—<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>2</b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; In [[mercantile]] lang., to [[deprive]] of [[money]], to [[overreach]], [[defraud]]: adulescentulos, Cic. Phil. 14, 3, 7; Juv. 10, 222; 14, 237: ab Roscio HS. IↃↃↃ. [[circumscriptus]], Cic. Rosc. Com. 8, 24: vectigalia, to [[embezzle]], Quint. Decl. 340.—<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>3</b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; In [[law]], to [[defeat]] the [[purpose]] of a [[law]], a [[will]], etc., by a [[forced]] or [[too]] [[literal]] [[interpretation]]: legem, Dig. 4, 3, 18 fin.: ita circumscripto testamento, Plin. Ep. 8, 18, 4; Front. Aquaed. 112: constitutiones, Lact. de Ira Dei, 8.—<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>4</b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Of [[circumlocution]], to [[involve]] in [[language]]: [[oratio]] rem simplicem circumscribens elocutione, Auct. Her. 4, 32, 43; cf.: facetis jocis [[sacrilegium]] circumscribens, [[covering]], Just. 39, 2, 5.—<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>D</b> To [[cancel]]; to [[declare]] [[invalid]], to [[annul]], [[invalidate]], [[void]], [[set]] [[aside]] (cf. [[circumduco]], II. D.): hoc omni tempore Sullano ex accusatione circumscripto, Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 16, § 43 (sublato, circumducto, praetermisso, Ascon.): circumscriptis [[igitur]] iis seutentiis, quas posui, etc., id. Fin. 3, 9, 31.—Hence, [[circumscriptus]], a, um, P. a.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>1</b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (Acc. to II. A.) In rhet., [[rounded]] [[into]] periods, periodic: circumscripti verborum [[ambitus]], Cic. Or. 12, 38; cf. Auct. Her. 4, 32, 43; Quint. 12, 10, 5, and v. [[circumscriptio]].—Adv.: [[circum]]-scriptē, in periods: [[circumscripte]] numeroseque dicere, Cic. Or. 66, 221: [[circumscripte]] complecti singulas res. id. N. D. 2, 59, 147.—<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>2</b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (Acc. to II. B.) Restricted, [[limited]]: [[brevis]] et circumscripta quaedam [[explicatio]], Cic. de Or. 1, 42, 189: (vis orationis) pressior et circumscriptior et adductior, Plin. Ep. 1, 16, 4.—Adv.: [[circum]]-scriptē, [[summarily]]: [[circumscripte]] et [[breviter]] ostendere, Lact. 5, 14, 8; 5, 9, 20. —Sup. of the adj., and comp. and [[sup]]. of the adv. not in [[use]].
|lshtext=<b>circum-scrībo</b>: psi, ptum, 3, v. a.<br /><b>I</b> Prop., to [[draw]] a [[line]] [[around]], to [[circumscribe]], [[enclose]] in a [[circle]] (in [[good]] [[prose]]; [[very]] freq. in Cic.): orbem, Cic. Fin. 5, 8, 23: lineas extremas umbrae, Quint. 10, 2, 7: virgulā stantem, Cic. Phil. 8, 8, 23: virgā regem, Liv. 45, 12, 5: aeneā fibulā [[pars]] auriculae latissima circumscribitur, Col. 6, 5, 4: terram [[surculo]] heliotropii, Plin. 22, 21, 29, § 60.—<br /><b>II</b> Trop.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>A</b> To [[draw]] a [[line]] as the [[circumference]] of a [[thing]] (cf. Quint. 12, 10, 5), i. e. to [[define]], [[encompass]], [[enclose]], lim it, [[bound]], [[circumscribe]] (syn.: [[definio]], [[describo]], [[termino]]): nullis ut terminis ([[orator]]) circumscribat aut definiat jus suum, Cic. de Or. 1, 16, 70; cf.: [[genus]] universum brevi circumscribi et definiri potest, id. Sest. 45, 97: exiguum nobis vitae [[curriculum]] [[natura]] circumscripsit, immensum gloriae, id. Rab. Perd. 10, 30: quibus regionibus vitae [[spatium]] circumscriptum est, id. Arch. 11, 29: [[ante]] [[enim]] circumscribitur mente [[sententia]] confestimque verba concurrunt, id. Or. 59, 200: locum habitandi alicui, id. Par. 2, 18: [[Oceanus]] [[undique]] circumscribit omnes terras et ambit, Gell. 12, 13, 20: uti mihi dicas et [[quasi]] circumscribas verbis, [[quid]] [[homo]] [[sit]], id. 4, 1, 12.—<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>B</b> To [[bring]] [[within]] [[narrow]] bounds, i. e. to [[contract]], [[hem]] in, [[circumscribe]], to [[hinder]] [[free]] [[action]], to [[restrain]], [[confine]], [[limit]], etc. (syn.: [[claudo]], [[includo]], coërceo).<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>(a)</b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Esp., of the restrictions or hinderances imposed by one [[magistracy]] or [[authority]] [[upon]] [[another]]: Senatus [[credo]] praetorem eum circumscripsisset, Cic. Mil. 33, 88 (cf. [[just]] [[before]]: an consules in praetore coërcendo fortes fuissent), id. Att. 7, 9, 2; id. Phil. 13, 9, 19; Caes. B. C. 1, 32; Auct. ap. Quint. 9, 3, 72: [[ille]] se fluvio Rubicone et CC. milibus circumscriptum esse patiatur? Cic. Phil. 6, 3, 5: gulam et ventrem, Sen. Ep. 108, 14: circumscribere [[corpus]] et [[animo]] locum laxare, id. ib. 15, 2: laudes, id. Cons. ad Helv. 19, 7.—<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>(b)</b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; In gen.: uno genere [[genus]] hoc aratorum, to [[comprehend]] in one [[class]], Cic. Verr. 2, 2, 61, § 149 Zumpt: totum Dionysium [[sex]] epitomis circumscripsit, [[abridged]], Col. 1, 1, 10: ut luxuriam vilitate circumscribamus, Plin. 22, 2, 3, § 4.—<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>2</b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; In [[later]] medic. lang. circumscribi = minui, to [[abate]], [[subside]]: [[gravedo]] circumscribitur, Cael. Aur. Tard. 5, 10; so id. Acut. 2, 10 fin.—<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>C</b> To [[encircle]] or go [[around]] by [[writing]] = scribendo circumdare, i. e. to [[deceive]], [[cheat]], [[circumvent]], [[entrap]], [[insnare]] (syn.: [[circumvenio]], [[decipio]]): fallacibus et captiosis interrogationibus circumscripti [[atque]] decepti, Cic. Ac. 2, 15, 46; Plin. 7, 40, 41, § 131; 33, 3, 14, § 48: non circumscribetur, qui ita se gesserit, ut dicat, etc., [[will]] not be deceived, i. e. [[will]] [[commit]] no [[error]], Sen. Q. N. 5, 1, 3; id. Ep. 82, 19.—<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>2</b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; In [[mercantile]] lang., to [[deprive]] of [[money]], to [[overreach]], [[defraud]]: adulescentulos, Cic. Phil. 14, 3, 7; Juv. 10, 222; 14, 237: ab Roscio HS. IↃↃↃ. [[circumscriptus]], Cic. Rosc. Com. 8, 24: vectigalia, to [[embezzle]], Quint. Decl. 340.—<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>3</b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; In [[law]], to [[defeat]] the [[purpose]] of a [[law]], a [[will]], etc., by a [[forced]] or [[too]] [[literal]] [[interpretation]]: legem, Dig. 4, 3, 18 fin.: ita circumscripto testamento, Plin. Ep. 8, 18, 4; Front. Aquaed. 112: constitutiones, Lact. de Ira Dei, 8.—<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>4</b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Of [[circumlocution]], to [[involve]] in [[language]]: [[oratio]] rem simplicem circumscribens elocutione, Auct. Her. 4, 32, 43; cf.: facetis jocis [[sacrilegium]] circumscribens, [[covering]], Just. 39, 2, 5.—<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>D</b> To [[cancel]]; to [[declare]] [[invalid]], to [[annul]], [[invalidate]], [[void]], [[set]] [[aside]] (cf. [[circumduco]], II. D.): hoc omni tempore Sullano ex accusatione circumscripto, Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 16, § 43 (sublato, circumducto, praetermisso, Ascon.): circumscriptis [[igitur]] iis seutentiis, quas posui, etc., id. Fin. 3, 9, 31.—Hence, [[circumscriptus]], a, um, P. a.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>1</b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (Acc. to II. A.) In rhet., [[rounded]] [[into]] periods, periodic: circumscripti verborum [[ambitus]], Cic. Or. 12, 38; cf. Auct. Her. 4, 32, 43; Quint. 12, 10, 5, and v. [[circumscriptio]].—Adv.: [[circum]]-scriptē, in periods: [[circumscripte]] numeroseque dicere, Cic. Or. 66, 221: [[circumscripte]] complecti singulas res. id. N. D. 2, 59, 147.—<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>2</b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (Acc. to II. B.) Restricted, [[limited]]: [[brevis]] et circumscripta quaedam [[explicatio]], Cic. de Or. 1, 42, 189: (vis orationis) pressior et circumscriptior et adductior, Plin. Ep. 1, 16, 4.—Adv.: [[circum]]-scriptē, [[summarily]]: [[circumscripte]] et [[breviter]] ostendere, Lact. 5, 14, 8; 5, 9, 20. —Sup. of the adj., and comp. and [[sup]]. of the adv. not in [[use]].
}}
{{Gaffiot
|gf=<b>circumscrībō</b>,¹¹ scrīpsī, scrīptum, ĕre, tr., tracer un cercle autour<br /><b>1</b> [au pr.] : orbem Cic. Fin. 5, 23, décrire un cercle ; lineas extremas umbræ Quint. 10, 2, 7, tracer les contours d’une ombre ; [[virgula]] aliquem circumscribere Cic. Phil. 8, 23, avec une baguette tracer un cercle autour de quelqu’un<br /><b>2</b> [fig.] enclore, borner, limiter qqch. : [[exiguum]] [[nobis]] vitæ [[curriculum]] [[natura]] circumscripsit Cic. Rab. perd. 30, il [[est]] étroit, le champ d’existence que nous a tracé la nature ; [[illi]] quibus [[quasi]] [[circumscriptus]] [[est]] habitandi [[locus]] Cic. Par. 18, ceux auxquels on a pour ainsi [[dire]] délimité un lieu d’habitation ; mente circumscribitur [[sententia]] Cic. Or. 200, l’esprit [[fixe]] le contour de la pensée ; terminis [[aliquid]] circumscribere Cic. de Or. 1, 70, entourer qqch. de limites (circonscrire qqch.), cf. Arch. 29 ; de Or. 2, 67 ; certi et circumscripti verborum ambibus Cic. Or. 38, périodes aux contours précis<br /><b>3</b> limiter, restreindre : gulam et ventrem Sen. Ep. 108, 14, se restreindre sur la bouche et les plaisirs sensuels ; [[senatus]], [[credo]], prætorem [[eum]] circumscripsisset Cic. Mil. 88, le sénat, j’imagine, aurait maintenu sa préture dans les bornes, cf. Att. 7, 9, 2 ; Cæs. C. 1, 32, 6 ; parata de circumscribendo adulescente [[sententia]] [[consularis]] Cic. Phil. 13, 19, la motion d’un consulaire était toute prête pour fixer des limites au jeune homme [Octave] = pour lui interdire l’accès du territoire de la république en le déclarant [[hostis]] ; [[circumscriptus]] a senatu [[Antonius]] Cic. Phil. 2, 53, les pouvoirs d’Antoine paralysés par le sénat<br /><b>4</b> envelopper, circonvenir, tromper : captiosis interrogationibus circumscripti [[atque]] decepti Cic. Ac. 2, 46, enlacés (embarrassés) et trompés par des questions captieuses || adulescentulos circumscribere Cic. Phil. 14, 7, circonvenir des jeunes [[gens]] [les voler par abus de confiance] ; ab Roscio HS IƆƆƆ [[circumscriptus]] Cic. Com. 24, circonvenu de cinquante [[mille]] sesterces par [[Roscius]] || détourner une loi de son vrai sens (l’interpréter faussement) : Dig. 4, 3, 18 ; [un testament] Plin. Min. Ep. 8, 18, 4<br /><b>5</b> écarter, éliminer [d’un procès, d’une discussion] : [[hoc]] omni tempore Sullano ex accusatione circumscripto Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 43, tout ce temps de [[Sylla]] étant retranché de l’accusation ; [[uno]] genere circumscribere habetis in [[animo]] [[genus]] [[hoc]] aratorum Cic. Verr. 2, 2, 149, vous avez l’intention par ce seul moyen juridique d’éliminer [[cette]] classe des cultivateurs, cf. Fin. 3, 31.
}}
}}

Revision as of 06:44, 14 August 2017

Latin > English (Lewis & Short)

circum-scrībo: psi, ptum, 3, v. a.
I Prop., to draw a line around, to circumscribe, enclose in a circle (in good prose; very freq. in Cic.): orbem, Cic. Fin. 5, 8, 23: lineas extremas umbrae, Quint. 10, 2, 7: virgulā stantem, Cic. Phil. 8, 8, 23: virgā regem, Liv. 45, 12, 5: aeneā fibulā pars auriculae latissima circumscribitur, Col. 6, 5, 4: terram surculo heliotropii, Plin. 22, 21, 29, § 60.—
II Trop.
   A To draw a line as the circumference of a thing (cf. Quint. 12, 10, 5), i. e. to define, encompass, enclose, lim it, bound, circumscribe (syn.: definio, describo, termino): nullis ut terminis (orator) circumscribat aut definiat jus suum, Cic. de Or. 1, 16, 70; cf.: genus universum brevi circumscribi et definiri potest, id. Sest. 45, 97: exiguum nobis vitae curriculum natura circumscripsit, immensum gloriae, id. Rab. Perd. 10, 30: quibus regionibus vitae spatium circumscriptum est, id. Arch. 11, 29: ante enim circumscribitur mente sententia confestimque verba concurrunt, id. Or. 59, 200: locum habitandi alicui, id. Par. 2, 18: Oceanus undique circumscribit omnes terras et ambit, Gell. 12, 13, 20: uti mihi dicas et quasi circumscribas verbis, quid homo sit, id. 4, 1, 12.—
   B To bring within narrow bounds, i. e. to contract, hem in, circumscribe, to hinder free action, to restrain, confine, limit, etc. (syn.: claudo, includo, coërceo).
   (a)    Esp., of the restrictions or hinderances imposed by one magistracy or authority upon another: Senatus credo praetorem eum circumscripsisset, Cic. Mil. 33, 88 (cf. just before: an consules in praetore coërcendo fortes fuissent), id. Att. 7, 9, 2; id. Phil. 13, 9, 19; Caes. B. C. 1, 32; Auct. ap. Quint. 9, 3, 72: ille se fluvio Rubicone et CC. milibus circumscriptum esse patiatur? Cic. Phil. 6, 3, 5: gulam et ventrem, Sen. Ep. 108, 14: circumscribere corpus et animo locum laxare, id. ib. 15, 2: laudes, id. Cons. ad Helv. 19, 7.—
   (b)    In gen.: uno genere genus hoc aratorum, to comprehend in one class, Cic. Verr. 2, 2, 61, § 149 Zumpt: totum Dionysium sex epitomis circumscripsit, abridged, Col. 1, 1, 10: ut luxuriam vilitate circumscribamus, Plin. 22, 2, 3, § 4.—
   2    In later medic. lang. circumscribi = minui, to abate, subside: gravedo circumscribitur, Cael. Aur. Tard. 5, 10; so id. Acut. 2, 10 fin.—
   C To encircle or go around by writing = scribendo circumdare, i. e. to deceive, cheat, circumvent, entrap, insnare (syn.: circumvenio, decipio): fallacibus et captiosis interrogationibus circumscripti atque decepti, Cic. Ac. 2, 15, 46; Plin. 7, 40, 41, § 131; 33, 3, 14, § 48: non circumscribetur, qui ita se gesserit, ut dicat, etc., will not be deceived, i. e. will commit no error, Sen. Q. N. 5, 1, 3; id. Ep. 82, 19.—
   2    In mercantile lang., to deprive of money, to overreach, defraud: adulescentulos, Cic. Phil. 14, 3, 7; Juv. 10, 222; 14, 237: ab Roscio HS. IↃↃↃ. circumscriptus, Cic. Rosc. Com. 8, 24: vectigalia, to embezzle, Quint. Decl. 340.—
   3    In law, to defeat the purpose of a law, a will, etc., by a forced or too literal interpretation: legem, Dig. 4, 3, 18 fin.: ita circumscripto testamento, Plin. Ep. 8, 18, 4; Front. Aquaed. 112: constitutiones, Lact. de Ira Dei, 8.—
   4    Of circumlocution, to involve in language: oratio rem simplicem circumscribens elocutione, Auct. Her. 4, 32, 43; cf.: facetis jocis sacrilegium circumscribens, covering, Just. 39, 2, 5.—
   D To cancel; to declare invalid, to annul, invalidate, void, set aside (cf. circumduco, II. D.): hoc omni tempore Sullano ex accusatione circumscripto, Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 16, § 43 (sublato, circumducto, praetermisso, Ascon.): circumscriptis igitur iis seutentiis, quas posui, etc., id. Fin. 3, 9, 31.—Hence, circumscriptus, a, um, P. a.
   1    (Acc. to II. A.) In rhet., rounded into periods, periodic: circumscripti verborum ambitus, Cic. Or. 12, 38; cf. Auct. Her. 4, 32, 43; Quint. 12, 10, 5, and v. circumscriptio.—Adv.: circum-scriptē, in periods: circumscripte numeroseque dicere, Cic. Or. 66, 221: circumscripte complecti singulas res. id. N. D. 2, 59, 147.—
   2    (Acc. to II. B.) Restricted, limited: brevis et circumscripta quaedam explicatio, Cic. de Or. 1, 42, 189: (vis orationis) pressior et circumscriptior et adductior, Plin. Ep. 1, 16, 4.—Adv.: circum-scriptē, summarily: circumscripte et breviter ostendere, Lact. 5, 14, 8; 5, 9, 20. —Sup. of the adj., and comp. and sup. of the adv. not in use.

Latin > French (Gaffiot 2016)

circumscrībō,¹¹ scrīpsī, scrīptum, ĕre, tr., tracer un cercle autour
1 [au pr.] : orbem Cic. Fin. 5, 23, décrire un cercle ; lineas extremas umbræ Quint. 10, 2, 7, tracer les contours d’une ombre ; virgula aliquem circumscribere Cic. Phil. 8, 23, avec une baguette tracer un cercle autour de quelqu’un
2 [fig.] enclore, borner, limiter qqch. : exiguum nobis vitæ curriculum natura circumscripsit Cic. Rab. perd. 30, il est étroit, le champ d’existence que nous a tracé la nature ; illi quibus quasi circumscriptus est habitandi locus Cic. Par. 18, ceux auxquels on a pour ainsi dire délimité un lieu d’habitation ; mente circumscribitur sententia Cic. Or. 200, l’esprit fixe le contour de la pensée ; terminis aliquid circumscribere Cic. de Or. 1, 70, entourer qqch. de limites (circonscrire qqch.), cf. Arch. 29 ; de Or. 2, 67 ; certi et circumscripti verborum ambibus Cic. Or. 38, périodes aux contours précis
3 limiter, restreindre : gulam et ventrem Sen. Ep. 108, 14, se restreindre sur la bouche et les plaisirs sensuels ; senatus, credo, prætorem eum circumscripsisset Cic. Mil. 88, le sénat, j’imagine, aurait maintenu sa préture dans les bornes, cf. Att. 7, 9, 2 ; Cæs. C. 1, 32, 6 ; parata de circumscribendo adulescente sententia consularis Cic. Phil. 13, 19, la motion d’un consulaire était toute prête pour fixer des limites au jeune homme [Octave] = pour lui interdire l’accès du territoire de la république en le déclarant hostis ; circumscriptus a senatu Antonius Cic. Phil. 2, 53, les pouvoirs d’Antoine paralysés par le sénat
4 envelopper, circonvenir, tromper : captiosis interrogationibus circumscripti atque decepti Cic. Ac. 2, 46, enlacés (embarrassés) et trompés par des questions captieuses