Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
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…Clim'æ-tĕr'ie-al, a. & n. p. 239Same as CLIMACTERIC.Cli′ma-tal, a. p. 239Pertaining to, or dependent on, climate; as, climatal diseases. Dunglison.Cli'ma-tär'chie, a. p. 239Presiding over climates.Clī'mate, n. p. 239(Anc. Geog.) One of thirty regions or zones of the earth, parallel to the equator, corresponding to the successive increase of a quarter of an hour in the length of the midsummer day. 2. The…Cli'māte, v. i. p. 239To reside in a particular region; to dwell. [Obs.] Shak.Cli-măt'ic or Cli-măt'ic-al, a. p. 239Pertaining to a climate or climates; limited by a climate.Cli'ma-tic'i-ty, n. p. 239The property of climatizing.Clī'ma-tize, v. t. p. 239To accustom to a new climate, as a plant; to acclimate.Cli'ma-tize, v. i. p. 239To become accustomed to a new climate; to become acclimated.Clī'ma-tŏg'ra-phy, n. p. 239A description of climates.Clī'ma-to-lŏg'ic-al, a. p. 239Belonging to climatology.Clī'ma-tŏl'o-gist, n. p. 239One versed in the subject of climates.Cli'ma-tōl'o-gy, n. p. 239The science of climates, or an investigation of the causes on which the climate of a place depends. Brande.Clī'ma-türe, n. p. 239A climate. [Obs.] Shak.cli'măx, n. p. 239(Rhet.) A figure or arrangement in which a sentence rises as it were step by step in importance, force, or dignity. “A fourth rule for constructing sentences with proper strength, is, to make the…Clīmb, v. i. p. 239To ascend or mount by means of the hands and feet; to rise laboriously or slowly. The orchard walls are high and hard to climb. Shak. Black vapors climb aloft, and cloud the day. Dryden.Clīmb, v. t. p. 239To ascend by means of the hands and feet, or laboriously or slowly; to mount. To climb steep hills requires slow pace at first. Shak. Thy arms pursue Paths of renown, and climb ascents of fame. Prior.Clīmb'a-ble, a. p. 239Capable of being climbed. Sherwood.Clīmb'er, n. p. 239One who climbs, mounts, or rises by the hands and feet; one who rises by labor or effort. Shak. 2. (Bot.) A plant that creeps and rises on some support. Mortimer. 3. (Ornith.) A bird that climbs, as…Clīmb'er, v. i. p. 239To climb; to mount with effort; to clamber. [Obs.]Clīme, n. p. 239A climate; a tract or region of the earth. See CLIMATE. Whatever clime the sun’s bright circle warms. Milton. Turn we to survey Where rougher climes a nobler race display. Goldsmith.Clin-ăn'thi-ŭm, n. p. 239(Bot.) The receptacle of the flowers in a composite plant;—sometimes called simply clinium.Clĭnch, v. t. p. 239To make, or hold, fast, by folding or embracing closely; to tighten by bending or folding together; to grasp; as, to clinch a nail, to make it fast by bending over the point; to clinch the fist.…Clĭnch, n. p. 239The act or process of holding fast, or that which serves to hold fast; as, to get a good clinch of an antagonist, or of a weapon; to secure any thing by means of a clinch. 2. A word used in a double…Clĭnch'er, n. p. 239One who, or that which, clinches; especially that which ends a dispute or controversy; a decisive argument.Clĭnch'er-built, a. p. 239Made with clincher-work. [Written also clinker-built.]Clĭnch'er-work, n. p. 239(Naut.) The disposition of the planks in the side of a boat or vessel, in which the lower edge of every plank overlaps the one next below it, like slates on the roof of a house. Mar. Dict.Clĭng, v. i. p. 239To adhere closely; to stick; to hold fast, especially by winding round or embracing; as, the tendril of a vine clings to its support. Two babes of love close clinging to her waist. Pope. 2. To adhere…