I.v. a. to bear round, or, in gen., to move or carry round or about (class. in prose and poetry).
I. Prop.: “age circumfer mulsum,” pass around, Plaut. Pers. 5, 2, 45: “satiatis vino ciboque poculum... circumferetur,” Liv. 26, 13, 18: “circumferri vinum largius jubet,” Curt. 7, 4, 7: “hisce (poculis) etiam nunc in publico convivio potio circumfertur,” Varr. L. L. 5, § 122 Müll.: “sanguinem in pateris,” Sall. C. 22, 1; Flor. 4, 1, 4 Duker: “circa ea omnia templa Philippum infestos circumtulisse ignes,” Liv. 31, 30, 7: “reliquias cenae,” Suet. Galb. 22: “lyram in conviviis,” Quint. 1, 10, 19: “codicem,” Cic. Verr. 2, 2, 42, § 104: “filium suis manibus,” Quint. 2, 15, 8: “diuque arma circumferens alia tela clipeo excipiebat, corpore alia vitabat,” Curt. 6, 1, 4: “ter heros Immanem circumfert tegmine silvam,” Verg. A. 10, 887: “pavimenta in expeditionibus,” Suet. Caes. 46: “ubique pellem vituli marini,” id. Aug. 90.—Of books carried about for sale, Quint. 2, 13, 15; 2, 15, 4 al.: “huc atque huc acies circumtulit,” Verg. A. 12, 558; cf. “oculos,” to cast around, Ov. M. 6, 169; 15, 674; Liv. 2, 10, 8; 5, 41, 4; Curt. 6, 11, 36; Val. Max. 7, 2, ext. 2: “vultus,” Ov. M. 3, 241; Suet. Caes. 85.—Mid.: “sol ut circumferatur,” revolve, Cic. de Or. 3, 45, 178; cf.: linea circumferens, the circumference, Gromat. Vet. 5, 10: “nec mirari hominem mercede conductum... ad nutum licentium circumferri,” Curt. 5, 12, 2.—
II. Trop. (mostly in the poets and histt.), to spread around: “bellum,” Liv. 9, 41, 6; 9, 45, 17; 10, 17, 2; 28, 3, 1; Tac. A. 13, 37 (for which: “spargere bellum,” id. ib. 3, 21): “belli umbram,” Sil. 15, 316: “et circumferentem arma Scipionem omnibus finitimis raptim perdomitis ipsam Carthaginem repente adgressurum credebant,” Liv. 30, 9, 3; Flor. 1, pr. 2; “3, 12, 1: signa,” id. 3, 5, 29: “incendia et caedes et terrorem,” Tac. A. 2, 52; cf.: “terrorem nominis sui late,” Flor. 2, 2, 21: “Caesar circumferens terrarum orbi praesentia pacis suae bona,” Vell. 2, 92, 2; Plin. Pan. 7, 5.—
B. Of a narrative or discourse, to publish abroad, proclaim, divulge, disseminate among the people, report (prob. nct ante-Aug.): “ut circumferetur M. Philippi factum atque dictum,” Col. 8, 16, 3; Plin. Ep. 3, 11, 1; 6, 8, 2: “illud quidem ingens fama, haec nulla circumfert,” id. ib. 3, 16, 13.—With acc. and inf.: “novi aliquam, quae se circumferat esse Corinnam,” Ov. Am. 2, 17, 29. —Hence, of writings: “circumferri,” to be widely circulated, Quint. 2, 13, 15; 2, 15, 4. —
C. In the lang. of religion, to lustrate, purify any one by carrying around him consecrated objects (torches, offerings, etc.) = lustrare, purgare: “quaeso quin tu istanc jubes Pro cerritā circumferri?” Plaut. Am. 2, 2, 144: aliquem pro larvato, id. Fragm. ap. Serv. ad Verg. A. 6, 229: tum ferto omnia sum circumlatus, Lucil. ap. Non. p. 261, 27: idem ter socios purā circumtulit undā, carried around pure water, i. e. for purification (poet. constr. for undam circum socios), Verg. A. 6, 229 Serv. and Wagn.; Veg. 3, 74.—*
D. In rhetoric: “oratio deducta et circumlata,” expanded, drawn out into periods, Quint. 4, 1, 60 Spald.