circum-原是個(gè)拉丁介詞或副詞，意思相當(dāng)于around或 about。作為一個(gè)介（副）詞性質(zhì)的原生詞綴，它一般附在拉丁動(dòng)詞詞干前，構(gòu)成原生動(dòng)詞或相應(yīng)的名詞與形容詞。在現(xiàn)代英語(yǔ)中，它也可以充當(dāng)派生詞綴，加在拉丁借詞前，構(gòu)成的往往是科技用詞。下面是幾個(gè)較為常見的帶circum-的派生詞。

circumambulate [ circum- = around 繞;ambulate = to walk or go 行→]v. go around 繞行 / The pilgrims circumambulated the holy shrine. 朝圣者繞著圣龕行進(jìn)。

circumambulation n. 環(huán)行，繞行

circumference [ circum- = around 環(huán)；fer = to bear 承擔(dān)；-ence n. =thing 物=>“a line that bears or goes around 一條環(huán)行的線”→] n. the boundary line of a circle 圓周線，圓周 / The equator is the longest circumference around the earth.赤道是地球上最長(zhǎng)的圓周線。

circumferential a. 周圍的;環(huán)繞的

circumlocution [ circum-=around 環(huán)繞;locut = to speak 說;-ion n. = -ing => “around speaking 繞著說”→]n . roundabout way of speaking 迂回說法 / “The wife of your father's brother” is a circumlocution for “your aunt”. “你父親兄弟的妻子”是 “你嬸子”的迂回說法。

circumspect [ circum- =around 周圍;spect = to look 視=>“to look around 環(huán)視四周”→]a. watchful on all sides; careful 周到的；謹(jǐn)慎的 / A politician should be quite circumspect in his behaviour.政治家應(yīng)該謹(jǐn)言慎行。

circumspection n. 謹(jǐn)慎，周到