circusses

English

Noun

circusses

1. plural of circus
   • c. 1580 (date written), Philippe Sidnei [i.e., Philip Sidney], “[The Second Booke] Chapter 22”, in Fulke Greville, Matthew Gwinne, and John Florio, editors, The Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia [The New Arcadia], London: […] [John Windet] for William Ponsonbie, published 1590, →OCLC; republished in Albert Feuillerat, editor, The Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia (Cambridge English Classics: The Complete Works of Sir Philip Sidney; I), Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: University Press, 1912, →OCLC, page 292:

     But we were not entred into that Kingdome, whẽ by the noise of a great fight, we were guided to a pleasaunt valey, which like one of those Circusses, which in great cities somewhere doth give a pleasant spectacle of rũning horses; so of either side stretching it selfe in a narrow length was it hemd in by wooddy hilles; as if indeed Nature had meant therein to make a place for beholders.

   • 1755, Letters Concerning Taste, pages 84–85:

     In the Sink of Vice under the Emperors, we hear of expenſive Mauſoleums, immenſe Circuſſes, ſplendid Amphitheatres, ſtately Columns dedicated to Monſters who diſgrac’d their Species, and many other taſteleſs Wonders built for the Gratification of human Vanity.

   • 1765, “Letter XXXI.”, in A Collection of Voyages and Travels, from the Discovery of America to the Commencement of the Nineteenth Century, volume XVII, published 1809, pages 268, 277:

     Nice, March 5, 1765. / […] / The magnificence of the Romans was not so conspicuous in their temples as in their theatres, amphitheatres, circusses, naumachia, aqueducts, triumphal arches, porticos, basilicæ, but especially their thermæ, or bathing-places.

   • 1813, The Parliamentary Debates from the Year 1803 to the Present Time, volume XXVI, pages 642–643:

     His next objection was to the circusses, which were to be made where this street was to cross Piccadilly and Oxford-street. These circusses would not only entirely spoil the view down those two fine streets, but would oblige the passengers to go out of their way. He thought those circusses would be nuisances in the day-time; but he could not say what they would be in the night.

   • 1861, Wilkie Collins, Hide and Seek; Or, the Mystery of Mary Grice, London: Sampson Low, Son & Co., page 62:

     He was so frightened of her that she could twist him round her finger; and she did, for he dursn’t quarrel with the best rider in England, and let other circusses get hold of her.

   • 1883, George Wilbur Peck, Mirth for the Million: Peck’s Compendium of Fun, Comprising the Immortal Deeds of Peck's Bad Boy and His Pa, and All the Choice Gems of Wit, Humor, Sarcasm and Pathos:

     There have been several million boys made into liars by school officials attempting to prevent their going to circusses, and we contend that it is the duty of teachers to place as few temptations to lie as possible in the way of boys.

   • 1930, Sessional Papers - Legislature of the Province of Ontario, volume 5, page 13:

     All carnivals, circusses, etc., were kept under observation during their stay in the Province, and a number of objectionable features eliminated, gambling outfits seized, and the operators prosecuted and convicted.

   • 1987, Paul Broers, Amsterdam Architecture: A Guide, →ISBN, page 72:

     Nineteenth century Amsterdam can be approached in two different ways: as an isolated period, with its jumble of styles and strange, new building commissions such as stations, circusses and industrial palaces, or as a period in which specifically after about 1860 the foundations of the period 1900-1940 are laid, the period in which Dutch architecture played a leading role for a short while.

   • 1997, Jan Breytenbach, Eden’s Exiles: One Soldier’s Fight for Paradise, →ISBN, page 113:

     There is one farm, near Otjivarongo,^[sic] where surplus and elderly lions from zoos or circusses are kept in a fenced camp to be shot by intrepid big game hunters from America, Germany, Japan and other affluent societies.

   • 1997, Barbara Sohmers, The Fox and the Puma, page 8:

     “I care!” Philippe said defiantly, with a sideways glance at Loulou. “I love circusses! I wouldn’t miss it for anything!”

   • 1998, Sociologus, page 140:

     The earlier objections continued, from pagans as well as from Christians who were particularly uncomfortable with those performances that parodied the sacraments on the stage as well as those exhibitions that forced them into mortal combat. As a result many Fathers of the Church advocated the complete suppression of drama and circusses.