from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Circuit \Cir"cuit\, n. [F. circuit, fr. L. circuitus, fr.
circuire or circumire to go around; circum around + ire to
go.]
1. The act of moving or revolving around, or as in a circle
or orbit; a revolution; as, the periodical circuit of the
earth round the sun. --Watts.
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2. The circumference of, or distance round, any space; the
measure of a line round an area.
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The circuit or compass of Ireland is 1,800 miles.
--J. Stow.
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3. That which encircles anything, as a ring or crown.
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The golden circuit on my head. --Shak.
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4. The space inclosed within a circle, or within limits.
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A circuit wide inclosed with goodliest trees.
--Milton.
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5. A regular or appointed journeying from place to place in
the exercise of one's calling, as of a judge, or a
preacher.
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6.
(a) (Law) A certain division of a state or country,
established by law for a judge or judges to visit, for
the administration of justice. --Bouvier.
(b) (Methodist Church) A district in which an itinerant
preacher labors.
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7. Circumlocution. [Obs.] "Thou hast used no circuit of
words." --Huloet.
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{Circuit court} (Law), a court which sits successively in
different places in its circuit (see {Circuit}, 6). In the
United States, the federal circuit courts are commonly
presided over by a judge of the supreme court, or a
special circuit judge, together with the judge of the
district court. They have jurisdiction within statutory
limits, both in law and equity, in matters of federal
cognizance. Some of the individual States also have
circuit courts, which have general statutory jurisdiction
of the same class, in matters of State cognizance.
{Circuit of action} or {Circuity of action} (Law), a longer
course of proceedings than is necessary to attain the
object in view.
{To make a circuit}, to go around; to go a roundabout way.
{Voltaic circle} or {Galvanic circle} or {Voltaic circuit} or
{Galvanic circuit}, a continous electrical communication
between the two poles of a battery; an arrangement of
voltaic elements or couples with proper conductors, by
which a continuous current of electricity is established.
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