Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CIR-CUM-STAN'TIAL, a.

1. Attending; relating to; but not essential.
2. Consisting in or pertaining to circumstances, or to particular incidents. The usual character of human testimony is substantial truth under circumstantial variety. Paley.
3. Incidental; casual. – Donne.
4. Abounding with circumstances, or exhibiting all the circumstances; minute; particular; as, a circumstantial account or recital.
5. In law, circumstantial evidence is that which is obtained from circumstances, which necessarily or usually attend facts of a particular nature, from which arises presumption. Blackstone.