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https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/circumstantial https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/circumstantial 1. belonging to, consisting in, or dependen
by andrewzah 5y ago
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/circumstantial https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/circumstantial
1. belonging to, consisting in, or dependent on circumstances
2. pertinent but not essential : incidental
The original comment used the word correctly. Because dictionaries describe how people actually speak, not prescribe rules on how to use words. That's why they get updated every so often as word usages change.
- elliekelly 5y agoBut this is a word that has a technical meaning and a colloquial meaning. It doesn’t make sense to apply the colloquial definition when a term is being used in the context of a technical discussion. In other words, the appropriate definition of a term of art is... circumstantial. ;)
- parineum 5y ago> how people actually speak To counter that point, "circumstantial" has a legal meaning that does not change as easily.
- alpaca128 5y agoYes. But this thread isn't a legal document and is mostly written by people that aren't lawyers. A lot of words have specific meanings, yet we don't complain and cite dictionary definitions when people use the word "or" as exclusive-or.