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An American Dictionary of the English Language

by Noah Webster

Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)

Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865

Entries
95,912
Pages
1,538
Illustrations
2,133

Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.

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  1. Clēar'-stŭff, n.p. 238Boards, &c., free from knots.
  2. Clēat, n.p. 238(Carp.) A narrow strip of wood nailed to something for the purpose of affording strength or of securing a piece of work in its proper position. 2. (Naut.) A piece of wood, having different forms…
  3. Clēat, v. t.p. 238To strengthen with a cleat. Halliwell.
  4. Clēav'a-ble, a.p. 238Capable of cleaving or being divided.
  5. Cleav'age, n.p. 238The act of cleaving or splitting. 2. (Crystallog.) The quality of splitting or dividing naturally; direction of dividing plane. 3. (Geol.) Division into laminæ, like slate, with the lamination not…
  6. Cleave, v. i.p. 238To adhere closely; to stick; to hold fast. My bones cleave to my skin. Ps. cii. 5. Sophistry cleaves close to and protects Sin’s rotten trunk. Couper. 2. To unite or be united closely in interest or…
  7. Cleave, v. t.p. 238To part or divide by force; to split or rive. At their passing cleave the Assyrian flood, . . . As the Red Sea and Jordan once he cleft. Milton. 2. To part or open naturally; to divide. “Every beast…
  8. Clēave, v. i.p. 238To part; to open; to crack; to separate, as parts of cohering bodies; as, the ground cleaves by frost. The Mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof. Zech. xiv. 4.
  9. Cleave'land-ite, n.p. 238(Min.) A variety of albite, white, and lamellar in structure. Dana.
  10. Cleav'er, n.p. 238One who cleaves, or that which cleaves, especially a butcher's instrument for cutting animal bodies into joints or pieces.
  11. Cleav'ers, n.p. 238(Bot.) A species of Galium (G. aparine), having a fruit set with hooked bristles, which adhere to whatever they come in contact with;—called also catch-weed, &c. London.
  12. Clēche, n.p. 238[Fr. cléchē, croix cléchée; Lat. clavis, key. (Her.) A kind of cross, charged with another cross of the same figure, but of the color of the field. Craig.
  13. Clēdge, n.p. 238(Mining.) The upper stratum of fuller's earth.
  14. Clēd'gy, a.p. 238Stiff, stubborn, or tenacious;—said of lands having a stubborn or tenacious soil, or of those mixed with clay. Halliwell.
  15. Clee, n.p. 238A claw. [Obs.] Holland.
  16. Clēf, n.p. 238(Mus.) A character used in musical notation to determine the position and pitch of the scale as represented on the staff. ☞ The clefs are three in number, called the C, F, and G clefs, and are…
  17. Clĕft, imp. & p. p.p. 238from cleave.
  18. Clēft, n.p. 238A space or opening made by splitting; a crack; a crevice; as, the cleft of a rock. Is. ii. 21. The cascades seem to break through the clefs and cracks of rocks. Addison. 2. A piece made by splitting…
  19. Clēft'-fōot/ed, a.p. 238Having a cloven foot.
  20. Clēft'-grāft, v. t.p. 238To ingraft by cleaving the stock and inserting a scion. Mortimer.
  21. Clĕft'-grăft'ing, n.p. 238A mode of grafting in which the scion is inserted in a cleft made in the stock.
  22. Clēg, n.p. 238The horse-fly. Sylvester.
  23. Clēm, v. i.p. 238To starve. [Obs.] Hard is the choice when the valiant must eat their arms or clem. B. Jonson.
  24. Clēm, v. t.p. 238To starve; to famish. [Obs.] What! will he clem me and my followers? B. Jonson.
  25. Clēm'a-tĭs, n.p. 238(Bot.) A genus of climbing plants, of many species:—called also virgin's bower. Loudon.
  26. Clēm'ençe, n.p. 238Clemency. Spenser.
  27. Clēm'en-cy, n.p. 238Mildness of temper; gentleness or lenity of disposition; disposition to treat with favor and kindness, or to forgive and spare, as offenders; tenderness. “Great clemency and tender zeal toward their…
  28. Clēm'ent, a.p. 238Mild in temper and disposition. Shak. Syn.—Gentle; lenient; merciful; kind; tender; compassionate; indulgent.
  29. Clĕm'ent-ine, a.p. 238Pertaining to St. Clement, or to his compilations; or to the constitutions of Clement the Fifth.
  30. Clēm'ent-ly, adv.p. 238With mildness of temper; mercifully. Taylor.
  31. Clēnch, v. t.p. 238See CLINCH.
  32. Clēpe, v. t.p. 238To call, or name. [Obs.] And cleped him his liege, to hold of him in fee. Spenser.
  33. Clēpe, v. i.p. 238To make appeal; to cry out. Wandering in woe and to the heavens on high Cleping for vengeance of this treachery. Mir. for Mag.
  34. Clēp'sy-drā or Clēp-sy'drā, n.p. 238A water-clock; a contrivance used anciently for measuring time by the gradual discharge of water from a small aperture, as if by stealth. W. Smith. 2. A chemical vessel. Johnson. Clepsydra, (1.)
  35. Clēre'-stō'ry, n.p. 238See CLEAR-STORY.
  36. Clēr'gī-cal, a.p. 238Pertaining to the clergy; clerical. [Obs.] Milton.
  37. Clēr'gy, n.p. 238[Fr. clergé, O. Fr. clergie, Pr. clercia, Sp. clerecía, L. Lat. clericia, from Lat. clericus, Gr. κληρικός, priest, from Lat. clerus, Gr. κλῆρος, the clergy; originally a lot, that which is assigned…
  38. Benefit of clergyp. 238the exemption of the persons of clergymen from criminal process before a secular judge—a privilege which was extended to all who could read, such persons being, in the eye of the law, clerici, or…
  39. Clēr'g-y-a-ble, a.p. 238Entitled to, or admitting the benefit of, clergy; as, a clergyable felony. Blackstone.
  40. Clẽr'ġy-man, n.p. 238An ordained minister; a man regularly authorized to preach the gospel, and administer its ordinances, according to the forms and rules of some denomination of Christians; in England, usually, a…
  41. Clĕr'ic, n.p. 238A clerk, or clergyman. Horsley.
  42. Clĕr'ic or Clĕr'ic-al, a.p. 238Relating or pertaining to the clergy. “A clerical education.” Burke. 2. Relating or pertaining to a clerk or copyist; as, a clerical mistake. “Clerical work.” E. Everett.
  43. Cle-rĭç'i-ty, n.p. 238The state of being a clergyman.
  44. Clēr'i-sy, n.p. 238The literati, or well-educated class. Coleridge.
  45. Clērk, n.p. 238A clergyman or ecclesiastic; an ordained minister. [Obs.] Ayliffe. 2. An educated person; a scholar; a man of letters. [Obs.] “Every one that could read . . . being accounted a clerk.” Blackstone. 3.…
  46. Clērk'-āle, n.p. 238The feast of the parish clerk. [Eng.]
  47. Clērk'less, a.p. 238Ignorant; unlearned. Waterhouse.
  48. Clērk'li-ness, n.p. 238The quality of being clerkly or scholarly. Latimer.
  49. Clērk'ly, a.p. 238Scholar-like. Crammer.
  50. Clērk'ly, adv.p. 238In a learned manner. [Obs.] Shak.
  51. Clērk'shīp, n.p. 238A state of being in the ministry of the church. Blackstone. 2. Scholarship; learning. Johnson. 3. The office or business of a clerk.
  52. Clēr'o-măn'cy, n.p. 238A divination by throwing dice or little bones, and observing the points or marks turned up. Bailey.
  53. Cle-rōn'o-my, n.p. 238Inheritance; patrimony; heritage.
  54. Cler'-stō'ry, n.p. 238See CLEAR-STORY.
  55. Clēv'er, a.p. 238Possessing skill, dexterity, talent, or adroitness; expert. Though there were many clever men in England during the latter half of the seventeenth century, there were only two great creative minds.…
  56. Clĕv'er-ĭsh, a.p. 239Somewhat clever. [Rare.] Bulwer.
  57. Clĕv'er-ly, adv.p. 239In a clever, dextrous, or adroit manner; skillfully; fitly; handsomely. Never was man so cleverly absurd. Smart.
  58. Clĕv'er-ness, n.p. 239The quality of being clever, or having dexterity; adroitness; skill. 2. Mildness or agreeableness of disposition; obligingness; good nature. [U. S.] Syn.—See INGENUITY.
  59. Clèv'is or Clèv'y, n.p. 239An iron bent to the form of an ox-bow, with the two ends perforated to receive a pin, used on the end of the tongue of a wagon, cart, or plow to draw it by.
  60. Clew, n.p. 239A ball of thread. “Untwisting his deceitful clew.” Spenser. 2. The thread that is used to guide a person in a labyrinth. “Guided by some clew of heavenly thread.” Roscommon. 3. That which guides or…