Word Meanings - CIRCUS - Book Publishers vocabulary database

A level oblong space surrounded on three sides by seats of wood, earth, or stone, rising in tiers one above another, and divided lengthwise through the middle by a barrier around which the track or course was laid out. It was used for chariot races,

Additional info about word: CIRCUS

A level oblong space surrounded on three sides by seats of wood, earth, or stone, rising in tiers one above another, and divided lengthwise through the middle by a barrier around which the track or course was laid out. It was used for chariot races, games, and public shows. Note: The Circus Maximus at Rome could contain more than 100,000 spectators. Harpers' Latin Dict. 2. A circular inclosure for the exhibition of feats of horsemanship, acrobatic displays, etc. Also, the company of performers, with their equipage. 3. Circuit; space; inclosure. The narrow circus of my dungeon wall. Byron.

Related words: (words related to CIRCUS)

• RIS
  A bough or branch; a twig. As white as is the blossom upon the ris. Chaucer.
• THREE-SQUARE
  Having a cross section in the form of an equilateral triangle; -- said especially of a kind of file.
• OBLONG
  A rectangular figure longer than it is broad; hence, any figure longer than it is broad. The best figure of a garden I esteem an oblong upon a descent. Sir W. Temple.
• MIDDLE
  1. Equally distant from the extreme either of a number of things or of one thing; mean; medial; as, the middle house in a row; a middle rank or station in life; flowers of middle summer; men of middle age. 2. Intermediate; intervening.
• EARTHLY-MINDED
  Having a mind devoted to earthly things; worldly-minded; -- opposed to spiritual-minded. -- Earth"ly-mind`ed*ness, n.
• EARTH FLAX
  A variety of asbestus. See Amianthus.
• STONEBRASH
  A subsoil made up of small stones or finely-broken rock; brash.
• SIDESADDLE
  A saddle for women, in which the rider sits with both feet on one side of the animal mounted. Sidesaddle flower , a plant with hollow leaves and curiously shaped flowers; -- called also huntsman's cup. See Sarracenia.
• RISK
  1. To expose to risk, hazard, or peril; to venture; as, to risk goods on board of a ship; to risk one's person in battle; to risk one's fame by a publication. 2. To incur the risk or danger of; as, to risk a battle. Syn. -- To hazard;
• THROUGHOUT
  In every part; as, the cloth was of a piece throughout.
• DIVIDER
  An instrument for dividing lines, describing circles, etc., compasses. See Compasses. Note: The word dividers is usually applied to the instrument as made for the use of draughtsmen, etc.; compasses to the coarser instrument used by carpenters.
• EARTHDIN
  An earthquake.
• ANOTHER-GUESS
  Of another sort. It used to go in another-guess manner. Arbuthnot.
• DIVIDEND
  A number or quantity which is to be divided. (more info) 1. A sum of money to be divided and distributed; the share of a sum divided that falls to each individual; a distribute sum, share, or percentage; -- applied to the profits as appropriated
• RISIBLE
  1. Having the faculty or power of laughing; disposed to laugh. Laughing is our busines, . . . it has been made the definition of man that he is risible. Dr. H. More. 2. Exciting laughter; worthy to be laughed at; amusing. "Risible absurdities."
• THREE-MILE
  Of or pertaining to three miles; as, the three-mile limit, or the limit of the marine belt of three miles included in territorial waters of a state.
• THREE-PILE
  An old name for the finest and most costly kind of velvet, having a fine, thick pile. I have served Prince Florizel and in my time wore three-pile. Shak.
• RISQUE; RISQUEE
  Hazardous; risky; esp., fig., verging upon impropriety; dangerously close to, or suggestive of, what is indecent or of doubtful morality; as, a risqué story. Henry Austin.
• TRACKLAYER
  Any workman engaged in work involved in putting the track in place. -- Track"lay`ing, n.
• STONEROOT
  A North American plant having a very hard root; horse balm. See Horse balm, under Horse.
• PITCHSTONE
  An igneous rock of semiglassy nature, having a luster like pitch.
• HORRISONOUS
  Sounding dreadfully; uttering a terrible sound. Bailey.
• CAPSTONE
  A fossil echinus of the genus Cannulus; -- so called from its supposed resemblance to a cap.
• ENTERPRISER
  One who undertakes enterprises. Sir J. Hayward.
• TRISYLLABIC; TRISYLLABICAL
  Of or pertaining to a trisyllable; consisting of three syllables; as, "syllable" is a trisyllabic word. -- Tris`yllab"ic*al*ly, adv.
• GRISLY
  Frightful; horrible; dreadful; harsh; as, grisly locks; a grisly specter. "Grisly to behold." Chaucer. A man of grisly and stern gravity. Robynson . Grisly bear. See under Grizzly. (more info) gro shudder; cf. OD. grijselick horrible,
• CLINKSTONE
  An igneous rock of feldspathic composition, lamellar in structure, and clinking under the hammer. See Phonolite.
• CHARACTERISTIC
  Pertaining to, or serving to constitute, the character; showing the character, or distinctive qualities or traits, of a person or thing; peculiar; distinctive. Characteristic clearness of temper. Macaulay.
• GRISTMILL
  A mill for grinding grain; especially, a mill for grinding grists, or portions of grain brought by different customers; a custom mill.
• SPAGYRIST
  1. A chemist, esp. one devoted to alchemistic pursuits. 2. One of a sect which arose in the days of alchemy, who sought to discover remedies for disease by chemical means. The spagyrists historically preceded the iatrochemists. Encyc. Brit.
• LUTHERANISM; LUTHERISM
  The doctrines taught by Luther or held by the Lutheran Church.
• METAPHORIST
  One who makes metaphors.
• GRINDSTONE
  A flat, circular stone, revolving on an axle, for grinding or sharpening tools, or shaping or smoothing objects. To hold, pat, or bring one's nose to the grindstone, to oppress one; to keep one in a condition of servitude. They might be ashamed,
• ARTILLERIST
  A person skilled in artillery or gunnery; a gunner; an artilleryman.
• TANTRISM
  The system of doctrines and rites taught in the tantras. -- Tan"trist , n.
• FRONTIERSMAN
  A man living on the frontier.
• SUBINDIVIDUAL
  A division of that which is individual. An individual can not branch itself into subindividuals. Milton.
• MOORSTONE
  A species of English granite, used as a building stone.