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circus

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circus


  3  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Circus  \Cir"cus\,  n.;  pl  {Circuses}.  [L.  circus  circle,  ring, 
  circus  (in  sense  1).  See  {Circle},  and  cf  {Cirque}.] 
  1.  (Roman  Antiq.)  A  level  oblong  space  surrounded  on  three 
  sides  by  seats  of  wood,  earth,  or  stone,  rising  in  tiers 
  one  above  another,  and  divided  lengthwise  through  the 
  middle  by  a  barrier  around  which  the  track  or  course  was 
  laid  out  It  was  used  for  chariot  races,  games,  and  public 
  shows. 
 
  Note:  The  Circus  Maximus  at  Rome  could  contain  more  than 
  100,000  spectators.  --Harpers'  Latin  Dict. 
 
  2.  A  circular  inclosure  for  the  exhibition  of  feats  of 
  horsemanship,  acrobatic  displays,  etc  Also  the  company 
  of  performers,  with  their  equipage. 
 
  3.  Circuit;  space;  inclosure.  [R.] 
 
  The  narrow  circus  of  my  dungeon  wall.  --Byron. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  circus 
  n  1:  a  travelling  company  of  entertainers;  including  trained 
  animals;  "he  ran  away  from  home  to  join  the  circus" 
  2:  performance  given  by  a  traveling  company  of  acrobats  clowns 
  and  trained  animals;  "the  children  always  love  to  go  to 
  the  circus" 
  3:  a  frenetic  disorganized  (and  often  comic)  disturbance 
  suggestive  of  a  circus  or  carnival;  "it  was  so  funny  it 
  was  a  circus";  "the  whole  occasion  had  a  carnival 
  atmosphere"  [syn:  {carnival}] 
  4:  (ancient  Rome)  an  open-air  stadium  for  chariot  races  and 
  gladiatorial  games 
  5:  an  oval  or  circular  area  enclosed  by  tiers  of  seats  and 
  usually  covered  by  a  tent;  "they  used  the  elephants  to 
  help  put  up  the  circus" 
  6:  a  genus  of  haws  comprising  the  harriers  [syn:  {Circus},  {genus 
  Circus}] 
 
  From  THE  DEVIL'S  DICTIONARY  ((C)1911  Released  April  15  1993)  [devils]: 
 
  CIRCUS,  n.  A  place  where  horses,  ponies  and  elephants  are  permitted 
  to  see  men,  women  and  children  acting  the  fool. 
 
 




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