Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
†CIRCUMSTANCE, n. Also circumstaince (m.Lth. 1884 R. F. Hardy Glenairlie 21). Sc. usage of sing. instead of pl. in sense of financial condition, means. This sing. use is not found in St.Eng. after the beginning of the 18th cent. (see N.E.D.).Ayr. 1823 Galt Entail I. ii.:
'Deed, it's vera true, he died in a sare straitened circumstance, and left this helpless laddie upon my hands.
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"Circumstance n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 29 Apr 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/circumstance>
