[ad. L. circumdūctiōn-em n. of action f. circumdūcĕre.]
1. The action of leading round or about; a roundabout or circuitous course. ? Obs.
1602. Fulbecke, Pandects Law Nations, 2. The course and circumduction of their yeare.
a. 1637. B. Jonson, Underwoods, Vis. Muses Drayton. In thy admired Periegesis, Or universal circumduction Of all that read thy Poly-Olbion.
1784. Johnson, Lett. to Langton, 13 April. You might have had it with less circumduction.
1822. T. Taylor, Apuleius, 47. Led by an angular circumduction into the forum.
2. The turning of anything round about its center or axis; spec. in Phys. the rotatory movement by which a limb is made to describe a cone having its apex at the joint.
1578. Banister, Hist. Man, IV. 47. The Muscles of circumduction, or they that lead the eye about.
1656. trans. Hobbes’ Elem. Philos. (1839), 6. The figure was made by the circumduction of a body whereof one end remained unmoved.
1835–6. Todd, Cycl. Anat., I. 256/1. The wrist … admits of vague opposition and circumduction.
1842. E. Wilson, Anat. Vade Mec., 93. Circumduction can be performed only in the shoulder and hip joints.
1870. Bowen, Logic, viii. 233. A circle is generated, namely, by the circumduction of a body one end of which is fixed.
3. Law. Annulling; cancellation. Circumduction of the term: in Sc. Law, the sentence of a judge declaring the time elapsed for leading a proof or doing other judicial acts, and precluding the bringing forward of any further evidence.
1609. Skene, Reg. Maj., Forme Proces, 121. All probation … ceases, and ends be twa wayes: the first is, circumduction of the terme: the other is, conclusion of the cause.
1726. Ayliffe, Parerg., 196. The Defendant must be cited de novo, as a circumduction requires.
¶ Deceit, cheating. [L. circumductio.]
1623. Cockeram, Circunduction, Guile, or deceit.
1656. in Blount, Glossogr.
