Wordwyrt

circus

/ˈsɜːkəs/SUR-kuhs
/ˈsɝkəs/SUR-kuhs

Meaninga ring

Common meaning: a ring-shaped arena for shows

Journey through time

  1. Aryan root · reconstructed√KAR‘curve, or to roll’No written record; from Skeat’s list of Aryan roots, no. 56, p. 732 · scan
  2. Latincircus; circum‘a ring’
  3. Englishcircus‘a ring-shaped arena for shows’ · today

circ also in: circlecircuitcircularcirculatecircumstance

Sources & notes

Meaning: “Meaning” is the sense that emerges from the word’s roots; “Common meaning” is today’s everyday sense. Both written by us.

Pronunciation

  • UK IPA: converted from the US form by rule (unchecked). Respelling: generated.
  • No UK recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-GB voice.
  • US IPA: CMUdict (BSD-2), converted to IPA by rule. Respelling: generated.
  • No US recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-US voice.

Origin: Built on Latin circus; circum ‘a ring; around’.

Did you know: our wording, based on Lewis & Short, Latin Dictionary (1879), entry circus, p. 335 · dictionary scan

Roots

Related words

circlecircuitcircularcirculatecircumstance

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