I.perf. sync. circumspexti, Ter. Ad. 4, 5, 55; inf. sync. circumspexe, Varr. ap. Non. p. 106, 16, or Sat. Men. 82), v. n. and a. (class.).
I. Neutr., to look about one's self, to cast a look around; or, with an obj.-clause, to observe, see, look about: “circumspicedum, numquis est, Sermonem nostrum quiaucupet,” see whether there is any one, Plaut. Most. 2, 2, 41; 2, 2, 43; Ter. And. 2, 2, 20; “Varr. l. l.: suus conjux ubi sit circumspicit,” Ov. M. 1, 605: “circumspicere late,” Quint. 10, 3, 29: “num quid circumspexti?” Ter. Ad. 4, 5, 55: “diversi circumspiciunt,” Verg. A. 9, 416: “qui in auspicium adhibetur nec suspicit nec circumspicit,” Cic. Div. 2, 34, 72: “circumspicit, aestuat, of one in trouble or perplexity,” id. Rosc. Com. 14, 43; cf. Liv. 21, 22, 7.—
(β).
Sometimes circumspicere se, to look about one's self: “circumspicedum te, ne quis adsit arbiter,” Plaut. Trin. 1, 2, 109; Varr. ap. Non. p. 106, 16; “Auct. B. Afr. 47: numquamne te circumspicies?” Cic. Par. 4, 2, 30.—In partic., to look about one's self with haughtiness; to think highly of one's self: “usque eone te diligis et magnifice circumspicis?” Cic. Rosc. Com. 2, 5; “and trop. of language: Romanus sermo magis se circumspicit et aestimat praebetque aestimandum,” Sen. Ep. 40, 11.—
B. Trop., to exercise foresight, be cautious, take heed: “esse circumspiciendum diligenter, ut, etc.,” Cic. Q. Fr. 1, 1, 3, § 10: cui mandetis (rempublicam) circumspicite Sall. H. 2, 41, 10 Dietsch.—Esp. freq.,
II. Act., to view on all sides, to survey: “cum sua quisque miles circumspiceret,” looked carefully to see, Caes. B. G. 5, 31; Liv. 9, 28, 5: “tam latā acie ne ex medio quidem cornua sua circumspicere poterant,” Liv. 37, 41, 4: “lucos,” Ov. M. 5, 265: “amictus,” to review, id. ib. 4, 318; so, “habitum suum,” Plin. Ep. 4, 11, 3; cf. under circumspectus, adv.—
2. To descry, get sight of by looking around: “saxum circumspicit ingens,” Verg. A. 12, 896: “Athin,” Ov. M. 5, 72.—
B. Transf., of things: “in latus omne patens turris circumspicit undas,” Ov. H. 6, 69.—
C. Trop.
1. To view something mentally, to survey, ponder upon, weigh, consider (syn.: “considero, perpendo): reliqua ejus consilia animo circumspiciebat,” Caes. B. G. 6, 5: “circumspicite paulisper mentibus vestris hosce ipsos homines,” Cic. Sull. 25, 70; cf. “se,” id. Par. 4, 2, 30: “neque temere consulem saltatorem vocare, sed circumspicere, quibus praeterea vitiis adfectum esse necesse sit eum, etc.,” id. Mur. 6, 13.—So with rel. -clause, Sall. H. 2, 41 Dietsch; Sen. Ep. 70, 5; Calp. Ecl. 5, 95: “circumspectis rebus omnibus rationibusque subductis summam feci,” Cic. Fam. 1, 9, 10: “permulta sunt in causis circumspicienda, ne quid offendas,” id. de Or. 2, 74, 301; id. Agr. 1, 8, 23; id. Fam. 5, 13, 3: “circumspicite celeriter animo, qui sint rerum exitus consecuti,” id. Leg. 2, 17, 42: “vide, quaere, circumspice, si quis est forte ex eā provinciā qui te nolit perisse,” Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 77, § 180; id. Clu. 53, 147; id. Cat. 4, 2, 4; Liv. 23, 20, 6; cf. Tac. H. 2, 6; Suet. Aug. 63.—With ut and subj., Cic. Q. Fr. 1, 1, 3, § 10; Ov. Tr. 1, 1, 87: “cum circumspicerent Patres quosnam consules facerent,” Liv. 27, 34, 1.—
2. To look about for something with desire, to seek for, etc. (so mostly since the Aug. per.): “nec, sicut aestivas aves, statim auctumno tecta ac recessum circumspicere,” Liv. 5, 6, 2; 7, 14, 6: “externa auxilia,” id. 1, 30, 6; cf. Just. 22, 5, 4: “fugam,” Tac. A. 14, 35; Just. 2, 12, 26: “novas belli causas,” id. 31, 1, 8; Verg. G. 3, 390; Plin. Ep. 3, 3, 3: “peregrinos reges sibi,” Just. 40, 1, 1; 22, 5, 4: “viresque suas circumspectantes his validiores,” Amm. 22, 8, 18.—Hence, circumspectus , a, um, P. a.
A. Of things, weighed with care, well considered, guarded, circumspect (perh. not ante - Aug.): “verba non circumspecta,” Ov. F. 5, 539: “judicium,” Quint. 10, 1, 26: “interrogatio,” id. 5, 7, 31: “moderatio animi,” Val. Max. 4, 3, 4: “circumspectissima sanctio decreti,” id. 1, 1, 20.—
2. Transf. to the person who carefully weighs a thing, circumspect, considerate, cautious, wary, provident, heedful: “modo circumspectus et sagax, modo inconsultus et praeceps,” Suet. Claud. 15: “circumspectissimus et prudentissimus princeps,” id. Tib. 21: “tenues et circumspecti,” Quint. 12, 10, 23; Cels. 3, 9 fin.: “omnes,” Col. 1, 8, 16; 1, 7, 12: “sive aliquis circumspectior est,” Sen. Q. N. 5, 1, 5.—Of dogs: “assidui et circumspecti magis quam temeraril,” Col. 7, 12, 5.—
B. In late Lat., worthy of consideration, respected, distinguished: “circumspectum et verecundum nomen populi Romani,” Amm. 14, 6, 6: “colores,” id. 28, 4, 12: “circumspectus genere, famā potentiāque,” id. 18, 10, 1.—Hence, circumspectē , adv., with consideration, with mature deliberation, warily, cautiously, considerately, circumspectly, etc.: “circumspecte compositeque indutus et amictus,” Gell. 1, 5, 2 (cf. supra, II. D.): “circumspecte vestiti,” Amm. 27, 3, 14: “circumspecte facti versus,” Gell. 9, 10, 6: “facere aliquid,” Dig. 4, 4, 7, § 8: parcius et circumspectius faciendum est, * Quint. 9, 2, 69: “circumspectius donare, eligere eos, in quos merita conferantur,” Sen. Ben. 3, 14, 1.
