circumscribe v. + Add to list US //ˌsɝkəmsˈkɹaɪb// UK //sˈɜːkəmskɹˌaɪb// cir·cum·scribe SynonymsEtymology Synonyms confinelimitOriginLATcircumscrībō→ENcircumscribe From Latin circumscrībō, from circum (“around”) + scrībō (“write”). By surface analysis, circum- + scribe.