Word of the Day - 09/14/25
circumscribed
/,sɝrkʌm'skraɪbd/(adj.): subject to limits or subjected to limits
Word Origin
The word "circumscribed" originates from Latin. It is derived from the past participle of the Latin verb "circumscribere," which means "to draw a line around," "to encircle," or "to limit." This verb is composed of two parts: "circum-" (a prefix meaning "around" or "about") and "scribere" (a verb meaning "to write," "to draw," or "to mark"). Therefore, "circumscribed" literally means "drawn around" or "marked around," reflecting its core meaning of being restricted within boundaries.
Many English words share the same Latin roots. Words using the prefix "circum-" include "circumnavigate" (to sail around) and "circumference" (the distance around a circle). Words derived from the Latin "scribere" include "scribe" (a person who writes), "describe" (to write down details), "prescribe" (to write before, as in a doctor's order), "subscribe" (to write one's name under), and "inscribe" (to write or engrave into something).
As a reminder, here are all of the words from this week:
dither epistolary obdurate
circumscribed
See if you can remember all of this week's words! Here is a sentence that includes all seven, followed by a version that simplifies them to help you remember:
The despotic leader, an infamous gourmand, found his influence circumscribed by an obdurate public, causing him to dither with fickle policy changes in his epistolary communications.The tyrannical leader, a well-known big eater, found his influence limited by a stubborn public, causing him to hesitate with changeable policy changes in his letter-based communications.