circa

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Latin

Pronunciation

• (Classical Latin) IPA^(key): /ˈkir.kaː/, [ˈkɪrkäː]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /ˈt͡ʃir.ka/, [ˈt͡ʃirkä]

Etymology 1

A later form for circum, or from circum + eā.

The accusative is from the adverbial derivation.

Adverb

circā (not comparable)

1. around; about
2. on both sides

Preposition

circā (+ accusative)

1. around; near; about quotations ▼
2. regarding, concerning quotations ▼

Related terms

• circātor
• circus

Descendants

• Asturian: cerca, cierca
• Catalan: cerca, circa
• Dutch: circa
• English: circa
• French: circa
• German: circa
• Italian: circa
• Norwegian Bokmål: cirka
• Portuguese: cerca
• Romanian: circa
• Sicilian: circa
• Spanish: cerca, circa

References

• “circa”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• “circa”, in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
• "circa", in Charles du Fresne du Cange’s Glossarium Mediæ et Infimæ Latinitatis (augmented edition with additions by D. P. Carpenterius, Adelungius and others, edited by Léopold Favre, 1883–1887)
• circa in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire illustré latin-français, Hachette.
• circa in Ramminger, Johann (2016 July 16 (last accessed)) Neulateinische Wortliste: Ein Wörterbuch des Lateinischen von Petrarca bis 1700‎^[1], pre-publication website, 2005-2016
• Online Latin dictionary, Olivetti

Etymology 2

Ultimately related to etymology 1. Sense 4 is only attested in the form cerca(s); see there for more.

Noun

circa f (genitive circae); first declension (Medieval Latin)^[1][2]

1. patrol, watch
2. episcopal visit
3. inquiry, inquest
4. defensive enclosure, moat