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cir·ci·nate

(sûrsə-nāt′)

adj.

1. Ring-shaped.

2. Botany Rolled up in the form of a coil with the tip in the center, as an unexpanded fern frond.

[Latin circinātus, past participle of circināre, to make circular, from circinus, pair of compasses; see CIRCINUS.]

circi·nate′ly adv.

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circinate

fern frond

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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