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Literary notes about Circumscribe (AI summary)

The term "circumscribe" exhibits a remarkable range of connotations in literature, stretching from its literal geometric origins to more abstract, metaphorical uses. For instance, in [1] the word is employed to denote the physical and mental limitation of one's boundaries, evoking the idea of setting a defined space for the body and the mind. This sense of restriction is amplified in [2], where the challenge of containing an infinitely divine concept is raised. In a similar vein, [3] uses the word in its basic sense of "limit," while [4] speaks to the necessity of delineating the true sphere of an idea, emphasizing precision and clarity. Meanwhile, [5] returns to the classical, geometric application of the term, referring to the act of drawing a circle around a triangle, a reminder of the word's technical roots. Through these varied examples, the literary use of "circumscribe" reflects both its historical meanings and its evolution into a versatile metaphor for setting bounds in both physical and conceptual realms.
  1. Itaque, quantum potes circumscribe corpus tuum, et animo locum laxa.
    — from Helps to Latin Translation at Sight by Edmund Luce
  2. And yet we must undertake to circumscribe thereto God himself!
    — from Essays of Michel de Montaigne — Complete by Michel de Montaigne
  3. circunscribir t circumscribe, limit.
    — from Doña Perfecta by Benito Pérez Galdós
  4. It is incumbent, therefore, to circumscribe its true sphere, and fix it there.
    — from Know the Truth: A Critique on the Hamiltonian Theory of Limitation by Jesse Henry Jones
  5. To inscribe or circumscribe a circle to a given triangle.
    — from The Declaration of Independence of the United States of America by Thomas Jefferson

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