encircled

Encircled is an adjective meaning surrounded by a circle or circular border. It can describe something physically enclosed by a ring, such as an encircled label on a diagram, or metaphorically as being encircled by danger or by supporters. In grammar, encircled serves as the past participle of encircle.

Etymology: The word derives from the verb encircle, with the prefix en- forming a passive sense, ultimately tracing to Old French encercler and Latin circulare through the root circle. The exact historical path varies by source, but encircled is a standard past participle form in English.

In typography and computing, encircled often refers to characters placed inside a circle. Unicode and font technologies include circled numbers and circled Latin letters, provided in the Enclosed Alphanumerics block for use in annotations, diagrams, or decorative text. Such symbols appear in lists, signage, and user interfaces to convey emphasis or grouping.

In mathematics and diagramming, an encircled element marks a point, angle, or label for emphasis or identification within a figure. The concept is also used in design to highlight targets, options, or steps in a sequence, often via a circular border to draw visual attention.