Root: circum/circ

About this Root

Core idea: Latin circum means around. Related forms like circ appear in words about rings, limits, and going round something.

How it shows up on the GRE

Many answers hinge on “restriction” or “avoidance”: to circumscribe is to draw a line around; to circumvent is to get around (a rule or obstacle).

Quick hooks from this list

• Circumspect — looking around carefully; cautious.
• Circumlocution — talking in a roundabout way.
• Circuitous — indirect, round-about.