I.to surround with a wall, to circumvallate; in milit. lang., to blockade, invest, encompass in a hostile manner (class., esp. in the histt.): “circumvallare loci natura prohibebat,” Caes. B. G. 7, 17; 7, 11; id. B. C. 3, 43; Liv. 10, 35, 12 and 15; 28, 3, 4, and in part. perf. pass. Caes. B. G. 7, 44 fin.; Cic. Att. 9, 12, 1; Liv. 43, 19, 9.—
B. Trop.: “tot res repente circumvallant,” beset, beleaguer, Ter. Ad. 3, 2, 4.—
II. In gen., to surround, encompass: “locum duobus sulcis,” Col. 11, 3, 4; Claud. IV. Cons. Hon. 11: “insula fluctisono circumvallata profundo,” Sil. 12, 358.