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cir·cum·val·late

(sûr′kəm-vălāt′)

tr.v. cir·cum·val·lat·ed, cir·cum·val·lat·ing, cir·cum·val·lates

To surround with or as if with a rampart.

adj.

1. (also -ĭt) Surrounded with or as if with a rampart.

2. Anatomy Surrounded by a ridge or raised, wall-like structure.

[Latin circumvallāre, circumvallāt- : circum-, circum- + vallum, rampart with palisades (from vallus, post, stake).]

cir′cum·val·lation n.

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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