Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Clĕm'ent-ine, a. p. 238Pertaining to St. Clement, or to his compilations; or to the constitutions of Clement the Fifth.Clēm'ent-ly, adv. p. 238With mildness of temper; mercifully. Taylor.Clēnch, v. t. p. 238See CLINCH.Clēpe, v. t. p. 238To call, or name. [Obs.] And cleped him his liege, to hold of him in fee. Spenser.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.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.)Clēre'-stō'ry, n. p. 238See CLEAR-STORY.Clēr'gī-cal, a. p. 238Pertaining to the clergy; clerical. [Obs.] Milton.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…Benefit of clergy p. 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…Clēr'g-y-a-ble, a. p. 238Entitled to, or admitting the benefit of, clergy; as, a clergyable felony. Blackstone.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…Clĕr'ic, n. p. 238A clerk, or clergyman. Horsley.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.Cle-rĭç'i-ty, n. p. 238The state of being a clergyman.Clēr'i-sy, n. p. 238The literati, or well-educated class. Coleridge.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.…Clērk'-āle, n. p. 238The feast of the parish clerk. [Eng.]Clērk'less, a. p. 238Ignorant; unlearned. Waterhouse.Clērk'li-ness, n. p. 238The quality of being clerkly or scholarly. Latimer.Clērk'ly, a. p. 238Scholar-like. Crammer.Clērk'ly, adv. p. 238In a learned manner. [Obs.] Shak.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.Clēr'o-măn'cy, n. p. 238A divination by throwing dice or little bones, and observing the points or marks turned up. Bailey.Cle-rōn'o-my, n. p. 238Inheritance; patrimony; heritage.Cler'-stō'ry, n. p. 238See CLEAR-STORY.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.…Clĕv'er-ĭsh, a. p. 239Somewhat clever. [Rare.] Bulwer.Clĕv'er-ly, adv. p. 239In a clever, dextrous, or adroit manner; skillfully; fitly; handsomely. Never was man so cleverly absurd. Smart.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.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.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…Clew, v. t. p. 239(Naut.) To draw up to the yard by means of the rigging used for that purpose, as in furling sails, &c. Totten. 2. To direct, as by a thread. Beau. & Fl.Clew'-gār'nets, n. pl. p. 239(Naut.) Ropes fastened to the clews of the fore-sail and main-sail of square-rigged vessels, to draw them up to the yard. Totten.Clew'-lines, n. pl. p. 239(Naut.) Ropes similar to the clew-garnets, but applied to the smaller square-sails, as the top-sail, top-gallant and sprit-sails.Cliché, n. p. 239The impression or cast formed by plunging a die into metal or other substances in a state of fusion; a matrix.Cliché casting p. 239a method of casting in which the mold or matrix is forced suddenly and perpendicularly down upon the fused metal.Clĭck, v. i. p. 239To make a small, sharp noise, as by a gentle striking; to tick. The solemn death-watch clicked the hour she died. Gay. The varnished clock that clicked behind the door. Goldsmith.Clĭck, v. t. p. 239To snatch or seize hastily. [Eng.] Halliwell.Clĭck, n. p. 239A small, sharp sound. 2. A kind of articulation used by the natives of Southern Africa, consisting in a sudden withdrawal of the end or some other portion of the tongue from a part of the mouth with…Clĭck, n. p. 239A pall, or small piece of iron, falling into a notched or ratchet wheel. 2. The latch of a door. [Local.]Click'er, n. p. 239The servant of a salesman, who stands at the door to invite customers. [Low. Not used in the U. S.]Click'et, n. p. 239The knocker of a door. [Not used in the U. S.] 2. A latch-key. [Eng.] B. Jonson.Cli'en-cy, n. p. 239The state or condition of a client.cli'ent, n. p. 239(Rom. Antiq.) A citizen who put himself under the protection of a man of distinction and influence, who, in respect to that relation, was called his patron. Hence, 2. A dependent; one under the…Cli'ent-age, n. p. 239A body of clients, or the business of clients. E. Everett.Cli-ēnt'al, a. p. 239Dependent. [Rare.] “A dependent and cliental relation.” Burke. 2. Of, or pertaining to, a client. I sat down in the cliental chair, placed over against Mr. Jagger's chair. Dickens.Cli'ent-ed, a. p. 239Supplied with clients. Carew.Clī-ĕnt'e-laġe, n. p. 239The body of clients of a lord or nobleman; a body of dependent persons.Clī'en-tēle', n. p. 239The condition or office of a client. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.Clī'ent-shĭp, n. p. 239The condition of a client; a state of being under the protection of a patron. Dryden.Clĭff, n. p. 239A high, steep rock; a precipice. As some tall cliff that lifts its awful form, Swells from the vale, and midway leaves the storm, Though round its breast the rolling clouds are spread, Eternal…Clĭff, n. p. 239(Mus.) See CLEF.Cliff'-lime/stōne, n. p. 239(Geol.) A series of limestone strata found in Ohio and further west, presenting bluffs along the rivers and valleys, formerly supposed to be of one formation, but now known to be partly Silurian and…Cliff'y, a. p. 239Having cliffs; broken; craggy. “Beneath the shade of Vecta’s cliffy isle.” Dyer.Clift, n. p. 239A cliff. [Obs.] See CLIFF. Spenser. 2. A split or crack; a cleft. “A clift of the rock.” Ex. xxiii. 22.Cliff'ed, a. p. 239Broken. “The Andes’ cliffed sides.” Grainger.Cli-mäc'ter, n. p. 239See CLIMACTERIC.Cli-măc'ter-ic or Clim'æ-têr'ic, a. p. 239Relating to a critical period of human life, or a certain number of years, at the end of which a great change is supposed to take place in the human constitution.Cli-măc'ter-ie or Climæ-tĕr'ie, n. p. 239A critical period in human life, or a period in which some great change is supposed to take place in the human constitution. The critical periods are thought to be the years produced by multiplying 7…