/'sɜ:kəmstəns; `sɝkəm,stəns/
n
1 [C usu pl 通常作复数] condition or fact connected with an event or action 环境; 情形; 情况
*What were the circumstances of/surrounding her death? ie Where, when and how did she die? 她是在什么情况下死的? （她是在何地、何时及如何死的?）
* She was found dead in suspicious circumstances, ie She may have been murdered. 她死的情形可疑（她可能是被谋杀的）.
* He was a victim of circumstance(s), ie What happened to him was beyond his control. 他是客观环境的牺牲者（他所遇到的事是他无法控制的）.
* Circumstances forced us to change our plans. 客观情况迫使我们改变了计划.
2 circumstances [pl] financial position 经济状况
*What are his circumstances? 他的经济状况如何?
* in easy/poor circumstances, ie having much/not enough money 处于富裕[贫穷]境况.
3 (idm 习语) in/under the `circumstances this being the case; such being the state of affairs 在这种情况下; 情形既然如此
*Under the circumstances (eg because the salary offered was too low) he felt unable to accept the job. 在这种情况下（如所提的薪金太低）, 他觉得无法接受这项工作.
* She coped well in the circumstances, eg even though she was feeling ill. 她在这种情况下仍处理得当（如虽然身体不适）. in/under no circumstances in no case; never 在任何情况下决不; 无论如何不
*Under no circumstances should you lend him any money. 你无论如何都不该把钱借给他. in straitened circumstances => straitened. pomp and circumstance => pomp.

n
[Date: 1100-1200; Language: Old French;Origin:Latin circumstantia, from circumstare 'to stand around', from circum- ( CIRCUM-) + stare 'to stand']
[C usually plural]
the conditions that affect a situation, action, event etc
　The Soviet Union had been forced by circumstances to sign a pact with Nazi Germany.
　I can't imagine a circumstance in which I would be willing to steal.
in ... circumstances
　The rules can only be waived in exceptional circumstances.
under ... circumstances
　Prisoners can only leave their cells under certain circumstances (=if particular conditions exist) .
　He was found dead in suspicious circumstances (=in a way that makes you think something illegal or dishonest has happened) .
　Unless there are extenuating circumstances , all students must be present on the day of the exam (=reasons which make you feel that it was reasonable for someone to break the usual rules) .
under no circumstancesalsoin no circumstancesBrE
used to emphasize that something must definitely not happen
　Under no circumstances are you to leave the house.
under/given the circumstancesalsoin the circumstancesBrE
used to say that a particular situation makes an action, decision etc necessary, acceptable, or true when it would not normally be
　It's the best result that could be expected under the circumstances.
[U]formal
the combination of facts, events etc that influence your life, and that you cannot control
　He was a victim of circumstance .
circumstances [plural]formal
the conditions in which you live, especially how much money you have
economic/financial/personal etc circumstances
　Whether or not you qualify for a loan will depend on your financial circumstances.
　people living in difficult social circumstances
in reduced circumstances
old-fashioned (=with much less money than you used to have)
→pomp and circumstanceatpomp