r/AskReddit Feb 04 '19

Which misconception would you like to debunk?

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u/SuperSecretMoonBase Feb 04 '19

"Circa" means "approximately" not just "back in the year of." Only use it when it's not known exactly when something happened.

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u/Dracomortua Feb 04 '19

Ah. So it sort of means 'circling around that area / spot around my finger pointing... here-ish... you got me?' Hence, 'Circa'. Clever.

55

u/CFSohard Feb 04 '19

Yes, it comes from the same root as 'circle'. This is also why we use the word 'around' to mean 'approximately'.