circumambulate etymology

Etymology:

  • Latin: circum ("around") + ambulare ("to walk")

Meaning:

To walk around or go around something, especially in a ceremonial or ritual manner.

Origin:

The word "circumambulate" first appeared in English in the mid-16th century. It is derived from the Latin verb "circumambulare," which is composed of the prefix "circum-" ("around") and the verb "ambulare" ("to walk").

Originally, the term was used in a religious context to describe the act of walking around a sacred object or place as a form of worship or veneration. This practice was common in ancient Roman and Greek religions, as well as in Hinduism and Buddhism.

Over time, the meaning of "circumambulate" broadened to include any act of walking around something, regardless of its religious significance. Today, the word is used in a variety of contexts, including:

  • In astronomy, to describe the orbit of one celestial body around another.
  • In architecture, to describe the movement of a person around a building or other structure.
  • In ecology, to describe the movement of an animal around its territory.
  • In ceremonies, to describe the ritualistic act of walking around a person, object, or place.

circumambulate relate terms

  • amble

    Etymology The word amble is derived from the Old French word ambler which means to

  • circum

    Etymology The word circum comes from the Latin word circum which means around or

  • circus

    Etymology The word circus derives from the Latin word circus which means ring or

  • abaft

    Etymology Middle English abaft from Old French abaf arriere from Late Latin ab af

  • about

    Etymology Etymology is the study of the origin and history of words It involves tracing

  • alley

    Etymology The word alley comes from the Old French word alée which means a passage

  • ambagious

    Etymology The term ambagious is derived from the Latin word ambages which means a

  • ambassador

    Etymology Latin ambactus meaning servant retainer French ambassadeur from ambact

  • ambi

    Etymology Late Latin ambiguus doubtful uncertain Ultimately from Proto Indo Europe

  • ambidexterity

    Etymology Ambi Latin both dexter Latin right hand Meaning Ambidexteri

  • ambidextrous

    Etymology The word ambidextrous originates from two Latin words ambi meaning bot

  • ambience

    Etymology The word ambience comes from the Latin word ambire meaning to surround o

  • ambient

    Etymology Latin ambiēns present participle of ambīre to go around Meaning Su

  • ambiguous

    Etymology Ambiguous etymology refers to words whose origin and history are uncertain or

  • ambit

    Etymology The word ambit has Latin origins It derives from the Latin word ambire me

  • ambition

    Etymology and Meaning of Ambition The word ambition comes from the Latin word ambitio

  • ambitious

    Etymology Latin ambi meaning both around Latin īre meaning to go ous suff

  • amble

    Etymology The word amble is derived from the Old French word ambler which means to

  • ambulance

    Etymology The word ambulance comes from the Latin ambulantia meaning to walk or

  • ambulant

    Etymology The word ambulant comes from the Latin word ambulare meaning to walk

  • ambulate

    Etymology Latin ambulare meaning to walk Proto Indo European h₂em meaning to

  • ambulatory

    Etymology The word ambulatory derives from the Latin word ambulare meaning to walk

  • amphi

    Etymology Greek ἀμφί amphi Meaning On both sides About around Origin T

  • amphibian

    Etymology The word amphibian comes from the Greek words amphi ἀμφί and bios

  • Amphictyonic

    Etymology and Meaning of Amphictyonic Etymology The term amphictyonic is derived from

  • amphisbaena

    Etymology The word amphisbaena comes from the Ancient Greek words amphi meaning bo

  • Amphiscians

    Etymology Greek amphi both sides skia shadow Meaning Amphiscians refers

  • amphitheater

  • amphora

    Etymology Greek amphoreus from amphi both pherein to carry Meaning A two

  • amputate

    Etymology From Latin amputare meaning to cut off Derived from amb meaning ar

  • amputation

    Etymology of Amputation Origin Latin amputationem nominative amputatio meanin

  • ancillary

    Etymology Ancillary derives from the Latin word ancilla meaning maidservant or

  • andante

    Etymology Andante is derived from the Italian present participle of andare meaning t

  • anfractuous

    Etymology Latin anfractus a winding bend Proto Indo European h₂n̥k to ben

  • begin

    Etymology The word begin comes from the Old English word beginnan which means to pe

  • beleaguer

    Etymology Old French belaguer from Late Latin bellicare from Latin bellicus of w

  • between

    Etymology is the study of the origin of words their form and their semantic changes over

  • bivouac

    Etymology French bivouac German biwak camp place of encampment Swiss German bivak

  • circumambulate

    Etymology Latin circum around ambulare to walk Meaning To walk around or

  • embassy

    Etymology The word embassy comes from the French word ambassade which in turn deriv

  • ember days

    Etymology and Meaning of Ember Days The term ember days is derived from the Latin phras

  • funambulist

    Etymology From Late Latin funambulus from funis rope ambulare to walk Mea

  • ombudsman

    Etymology The word ombudsman originates from the Old Swedish word ombuds which mean

  • perambulate

    Etymology Latin perambulare Prefix per through over Root ambulare to walk

  • perambulation

    Etymology Latin perambulare to walk through or around Per through ambulare

  • preamble

    Etymology The word preamble originates from the Middle French word preambule meanin

  • somnambulate

    Etymology Somno Latin sleep Ambulare Latin to walk Meaning To walk or be

  • somnambulism

    Etymology Somnambulism comes from the Latin somnus meaning sleep and ambulare m

  • umlaut

    Etymology German Umlaut Old High German Umbilūti um around about lūt inclina

  • circle

    Etymology The English word circle comes from the Latin word circulus a diminutive o

  • cleric

    Etymology The word cleric is derived from the following Latin clericus Greek kler

  • walk

    Etymology The word walk derives from the Proto Germanic word walkaną meaning to roll

  • around

    Etymology refers to the origin and evolution of words including their forms and meanings

  • hour

    Etymology The word hour comes from the Latin word hora which means hour time seas

  • debacle

    Etymology The word debacle is derived from the French word débâcle which literall

  • cultivate

    Etymology Latin colere to tend cultivate Old French cultiver Middle English cul

  • poise

    Etymology The word poise has two main etymological origins Old French pois meani

  • sedulous

    Etymology Latin sedulus meaning diligent assiduous watchful Indo European sed m