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Scenario vs Circumstance - What's the difference?

scenario | circumstance |

As nouns the difference between scenario and circumstance

is that scenario is an outline of the plot of a dramatic or literary work while circumstance is that which attends, or relates to, or in some way affects, a fact or event; an attendant thing or state of things.

As a verb circumstance is

to place in a particular situation, especially with regard to money or other resources.

scenario

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • An outline of the plot of a dramatic or literary work.
  • A screenplay itself, or an outline or a treatment of it.
  • An outline or model of an expected or supposed sequence of events.
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2012 , date=August 23 , author=Alasdair Lamont , title=Hearts 0-1 Liverpool , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=Hearts were keen to avoid a repeat of the scenario at this stage of last season's competition, when they found themselves two goals down inside the opening quarter of an hour.}}

    Derived terms

    * worst case scenario

    See also

    * scenarii (hypercorrect plural) ----

    circumstance

    English

    Alternative forms

    * circumstaunce

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • That which attends, or relates to, or in some way affects, a fact or event; an attendant thing or state of things.
  • * Washington Irving
    • The circumstances are well known in the country where they happened.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1905, author=
    • , title= , chapter=1 citation , passage=“The story of this adoption is, of course, the pivot round which all the circumstances of the mysterious tragedy revolved. Mrs. Yule had an only son, namely, William, to whom she was passionately attached ; but, like many a fond mother, she had the desire of mapping out that son's future entirely according to her own ideas. […]”}}
  • An event; a fact; a particular incident.
  • * Addison
    • The sculptor had in his thoughts the conqoeror weeping for new worlds, or the like circumstances in history.
  • * 1834 , David Crockett, A Narrative of the Life of , Nebraska 1987, p. 20:
    • Then another circumstance happened, which made a lasting impression on my memory, though I was but a small child.
  • Circumlocution; detail.
  • * Shakespeare
    • So without more circumstance at all / I hold it fit that we shake hands and part.
  • Condition in regard to worldly estate; state of property; situation; surroundings.
  • * Addison
    • When men are easy in their circumstances , they are naturally enemies to innovations.

    Derived terms

    {{der3, attendant circumstance , extenuating circumstances , under no circumstance , under the circumstances}}

    Verb

    (circumstanc)
  • To place in a particular situation, especially with regard to money or other resources.
  • * 1858 , , Chapter 8:
    • Tidings had in some shape reached is ears that his father was not comfortably circumstanced as regarded money.
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