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circumscribe (verb):

1a: to constrict the range or activity of definitely and clearly
b: to define or mark off carefully
2a: to draw a line around
b: to surround by or as if by a boundary
3: to construct or be constructed around (a geometrical figure) so as to touch as many points as possible

Source : Merriam -Webster

Etymology : To circumscribe something is to limit its size, activity, or range, but the range of influence of the Latin ancestors of circumscribe knows no bounds. Circumscribe comes via Middle English from the Latin verb circumscribere (which roughly translates as “to draw a circle around”), which in turn comes from circum-, meaning “circle,” and scribere, meaning “to write or draw.” Among the many descendants of circum- are circuit, circumference, circumnavigate, circumspect, circumstance, and circumvent. Scribere gave us such words as scribe and scribble, as well as ascribe, describe, and transcribe, among others.

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