English edit

Etymology edit

(to surround): Calque of Latin circumdō (to surround),[1] which is formed from circum- (around, about) + (give).

Verb edit

give about (third-person singular simple present gives about, present participle giving about, simple past gave about, past participle given about)

  1. to distribute or circulate something
  2. to spread a rumour
  3. (obsolete) to encompass or surround something

References edit

  1. ^ Entry ‘give, v.’. The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., version 4.0.