An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

1. An aggregate of surrounding → circumstances, → conditions, or → influences
   in which a thing is situated or is developed.
   

2. Computers: The entire set of conditions under which one operates a → computer, as it relates to the hardware, operating platform, or operating system.
   

3. Ecology: The totality of circumstances surrounding an → organism or group of organisms. More specifically, the combination of external physical conditions that affect and influence the growth, development, and survival of organisms.

Etymology (EN): From environ + -ment; the first component from Fr. environs, plural of O.Fr. environ “compass, circuit,” from environ (adv.) “around,” from en- “in” + viron “circle, circuit,” from virer “to turn.”

Etymology (PE): Pargir, from par- “around, surrounding,” variant pirâ-→ circum- + gir agent noun and present stem of gereftan “to take, seize; to make prisoner; to intercept” (Mid.Pers. griftan; Av./O.Pers. grab- “to take, seize;” cf.
Skt. grah-, grabh- “to seize, take,” graha “seizing, holding, perceiving;” M.L.G. grabben “to grab,” from P.Gmc. *grab; E. grab “to take or grasp suddenly;” PIE base *ghrebh- “to seize”).
Zistbum, from zist “life, existence,” → bio-,

• bum “region, land, place,” → eco-.