An act, condition, event, or fact connected with another act, condition, event, or fact either as an accessory or as a contributing or determining element. aggravating circumstance. A circumstance that increases the culpability or liability of a person or the measure of damages or punishment for a crime or tort. exigent circumstance. 1 An urgent situation that demands extraordinary or immediate action. Such a circumstance often allows for the circumvention of procedures that would otherwise b...