Circumvolant

/ˌsɜːkəmˈvoʊlənt/ adjective

Definition

Flying around or circling in the air; moving around something in a circular path while in flight.

Etymology

From Latin circumvolans, present participle of circumvolare (circum- 'around' + volare 'to fly'). This rare, ornate term appears mainly in poetry and archaic descriptive texts.

Kelly Says

Raptors hunting small prey are perfectly circumvolant—they circle higher and higher, watching from every angle until the moment they dive. It's a hunting strategy that uses gravity and geometry as weapons.

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