The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary
Chapter 283
He was no great clerk , but he was perfectly well versed in the interests of Europe. Burke.
3. A parish officer, being a layman who leads in reading the responses of the Episcopal church service, and otherwise assists in it. [Eng.]
Hook.
And like unlettered clerk still cry "Amen". Shak.
4. One employed to keep records or accounts; a scribe; an accountant; as, the clerk of a court; a town clerk .
The clerk of the crown . . . withdrew the bill. Strype.
&hand; In some cases, clerk is synonymous with secretary . A clerk is always an officer subordinate to a higher officer, board, corporation, or person; whereas a secretary may be either a subordinate or the head of an office or department.
5. An assistant in a shop or store. [U. S.]
Clerk-ale <Xpage=265>
Clerk"-ale` (? in Eng. <?/) , n. A feast for the benefit of the parish clerk. [Eng.]
T. Warton.
Clerkless <Xpage=265>
Clerk"less , a. Unlearned. [Obs.]
E. Waterhouse.
Clerklike <Xpage=265>
Clerk"like` (?) , a. Scholarlike. [Obs.]
Shak.
Clerkliness <Xpage=265>
Clerk"li*ness (?) , n. Scholarship. [Obs.]
Clerkly <Xpage=265>
Clerk"ly , a. Of or pertaining to a clerk.
Cranmer.
Clerkly <Xpage=265>
Clerk"ly , adv. In a scholarly manner. [Obs.]
Shak.
Clerkship <Xpage=265>
Clerk"ship , n. State, quality, or business of a clerk.
Cleromancy <Xpage=265>
Cler"o*man`cy (?) , n. [Gr. <?/ lot + -mancy ; cf. F. cl\'82romancie .] A divination by throwing dice or casting lots.
Cleronomy <Xpage=265>
Cle*ron"o*my (?) , n. [Gr. <?/ inheritance + <?/ to possess.] Inheritance; heritage.
Clerstory <Xpage=265>
Cler"sto`ry (?) , n. See Clearstory .
Clever <Xpage=265>
Clev"er (?) , a. [Origin uncertain. Cf. OE. cliver eager, AS. clyfer (in comp.) cloven; or clifer a claw, perh. connected with E. cleave to divide, split, the meaning of E. clever perh. coming from the idea of grasping, seizing (with the mind).] 1. Possessing quickness of intellect, 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. Macaulay.
Be good, sweet maid, and let who will be clever . C. Kingsley.
2. Showing skill or adroitness in the doer or former; as, a clever speech; a clever trick.
Byron.
3. Having fitness, propriety, or suitableness.
"T would sound more clever To me and to my heirs forever. Swift.
4. Well-shaped; handsome. "The girl was a tight, clever wench as any was."
Arbuthnot.
5. Good-natured; obliging. [U. S.]
Syn. -- See Smart .
Cleverish <Xpage=265>
Clev"er*ish (?) , a. Somewhat clever. [R.]
Cleverly <Xpage=265>
Clev"er*ly , adv. In a clever manner.
Never was man so clever absurd. C. Smart.
Cleverness <Xpage=265>
Clev"er*ness , n. The quality of being clever; skill; dexterity; adroitness.
Syn. -- See Ingenuity .
Clevis <Xpage=265>
Clev"is (?) , n. [Cf. Cleave to adhere, Clavel .] A piece of metal bent in the form of an oxbow, with the two ends perforated to receive a pin, used on the end of the tongue of a plow, wagen, etc., to attach it to a draft chain, whiffletree, etc.; -- called also clavel , clevy .
Clew, Clue <Xpage=265>
Clew (?) , Clue , n. [OE. clewe , clowe , clue , AS. cleowen , cliwen , clywe ball of thread; akin to D. kluwen , OHG. chliwa , chliuwa , G. dim. kleuel , kn\'84uel , and perch. to L. gluma hull, husk, Skr. glaus sort of ball or tumor. Perch. akin to E. claw . \'fb26. Cf. Knawel .] 1. A ball of thread, yarn, or cord; also, The thread itself.
Untwisting his deceitful clew . Spenser.
2. That which guides or directs one in anything of a doubtful or intricate nature; that which gives a hint in the solution of a mystery.
The clew , without which it was perilous to enter the vast and intricate maze of countinental politics, was in his hands. Macaulay.
3. (Naut.) (a.) A lower corner of a square sail, or the after corner of a fore-and-aft sail. (b.) A loop and thimbles at the corner of a sail. (c.) A combination of lines or nettles by which a hammock is suspended.
Clew garnet (Naut.) , one of the ropes by which the clews of the courses of square-rigged vessels are drawn up to the lower yards. -- Clew line (Naut.) , a rope by which a clew of one of the smaller square sails, as topsail, topgallant sail, or royal, is run up to its yard. -- Clew-line block (Naut.) , The block through which a clew line reeves. See Illust . of Block .
Clew <Xpage=265>
Clew , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. & vb. n. Clewing .] [Cf. D. kluwenen . See Clew , n. ] 1. To direct; to guide, as by a thread. [Obs.]
Direct and clew me out the way to happiness. Beau. && Fl.
2. (Naut.) To move of draw (a sail or yard) by means of the clew garnets, clew lines, etc.; esp. to draw up the clews of a square sail to the yard.
To clew down (Naut.) , to force (a yard) down by hauling on the clew lines. -- To clew up (Naut.) , to draw (a sail) up to the yard, as for furling.
Clich\'82 <Xpage=265>
Cli`ch\'82" (?) , n. [F. clich\'82 , from clicher to stereotype.] A stereotype plate or any similar reproduction of ornament, or lettering, in relief.
Clich\'82 casting , a mode of obtaining an impression from a die or woodcut, or the like, by striking it suddenly upon metal which has been fused and is just becoming solid; also, the casting so obtained.
Click <Xpage=265>
Click (?) , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Clicked (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Clicking .] [Prob. an onomatopoetic word: cf. OF. cliquier . See Clack , and cf. Clink , Clique .] To make a slight, sharp noise (or a succession of such noises), as by gentle striking; to tick.
The varnished clock that clicked behind the door. Goldsmith.
Click <Xpage=265>
Click , v. t. 1. To more with the sound of a click.
She clicked back the bolt which held the window sash. Thackeray.
2. To cause to make a clicking noise, as by striking together, or against something.
[Jove] clicked all his marble thumbs. Ben Jonson.
When merry milkmaids click the latch. Tennyson.
Click <Xpage=265>
Click , n. 1. A slight sharp noise, such as is made by the cocking of a pistol.
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 which it is in contact, whereby a sharp, clicking sound is produced. The sounds are four in number, and are called cerebral, palatal, dental, and lateral clicks or clucks, the latter being the noise ordinarily used in urging a horse forward.
Click <Xpage=265>
Click , v. t. [OE. kleken , clichen . Cf. Clutch .] To snatch. [Prov. Eng.]
Halliwell.
Click <Xpage=265>
Click , n. [Cf. 4th Click , and OF. clique latch.] 1. A detent, pawl, or ratchet, as that which catches the cogs of a ratchet wheel to prevent backward motion. See Illust . of Ratched wheel .
2. The latch of a door. [Prov. Eng.]
Click beetle <Xpage=265>
Click" bee"tle (?) . (Zo\'94l.) See Elater .
Clicker <Xpage=265>
Click"er (?) , n. 1. One who stands before a shop door to invite people to buy. [Low, Eng.]
2. (Print.) One who as has charge of the work of a companionship.
Clicket <Xpage=265>
Click"et (?) , n. [OF. cliquet the latch of a door. See 5th Click .] 1. The knocker of a door. [Prov. Eng.]
2. A latch key. [Eng.]
Chaucer.
Clicky <Xpage=265>
Click"y (?) , a. Resembling a click; abounding in clicks. "Their strange clicky language."
The Century.
Clidastes <Xpage=265>
Cli*das"tes (?) , n. [NL., prob. from Gr. <?/ key.] (Paleon.) A genus of exinct marine reptiles, allied to the Mosasaurus. See Illust . in Appendix.
Cliency <Xpage=265>
Cli"en*cy (?) , n. State of being a client.
Client <Xpage=265>
Cli"ent (?) , n. [L. cliens , -emtis , for cluens , one who hears (in relation to his protector), a client, fr. L. cluere to be named or called; akin to Gr. <?/ to hear, Skr. \'87ry , and E. loud : cf. F. client . See Loud .] 1. (Rom. Antiq.) A citizen who put himself under the protection of a man of distinction and influence, who was called his patron.
2. A dependent; one under the protection of another.
I do think they are your friends and clients , And fearful to disturb you. B. Jonson.
3. (Law) One who consults a legal adviser, or submits his cause to his management.
Clientage <Xpage=265>
Cli"ent*age (?) , n. 1. State of being client.
2. A body of clients.
E. Everett.
Cliental <Xpage=265>
Cli*en"tal (?) , a. Of or pertaining to a client.
A dependent and cliental relation. Burke.
I sat down in the cliental chair. Dickens.
Cliented <Xpage=265>
Cli"ent*ed (?) , a. Supplied with clients. [R.]
The least cliented pettifiggers. R. Carew.
Clientelage <Xpage=265>
Cli*en"te*lage (?) , n. See Clientele , n. , 2.
Clientele <Xpage=265>
Cli`en*tele" (? or ?) , n. [L. clientela : cf. F. client\'8ale .] 1. The condition or position of a client; clientship . [Obs.]
Bp. Hall.
2. The clients or dependents of a nobleman of patron.
3. The persons who make habitual use of the services of another person; one's clients, collectively; as, the clientele of a lawyer, doctor, notary, etc.
Clientship <Xpage=265>
Cli"ent*ship (?) , n. Condition of a client; state of being under the protection of a patron.
Dryden.
Cliff <Xpage=265>
Cliff (?) , n. [AS. clif , cloef ; akin to OS. klif , D. klif , klip , Icel. klif , Dan. & G. klippe , Sw. klippa ; perh. orig. a climbing place . See Climb .] A high, steep rock; a precipice.
Cliff swallow (Zo\'94l.) , a North American swallow ( Petrochelidon lunifrons ), which builds its nest against cliffs; the eaves swallow .
Cliff <Xpage=265>
Cliff , n. (Mus.) See Clef . [Obs.]
Cliff limestone <Xpage=265>
Cliff" lime"stone` (?) . (Geol.) A series of limestone strata found in Ohio and farther west, presenting bluffs along the rivers and valleys, formerly supposed to be of one formation, but now known to be partly Silurian and partly Devonian.
Cliffy <Xpage=265>
Cliff"y (?) , a. Having cliffs; broken; craggy.
Clift <Xpage=265>
Clift (?) , n. [See 1st Cliff , n. ] A cliff. [Obs.]
That gainst the craggy clifts did loudly roar. Spenser.
Clift <Xpage=265>
Clift , n. [See Cleft , n. ] 1. A cleft of crack; a narrow opening. [Obs.]
2. The fork of the legs; the crotch. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
Clifted <Xpage=265>
Clift"ed , a. [From Clift a cleft.] Broken; fissured.
Climb the Ande<?/ clifted side. Grainger.
Climacter <Xpage=265>
Cli*mac"ter (?) , n. [L., fr. Gr. <?/, prop., round of a ladder, fr. <?/ ladder: cf. F. climact\'8are . See Climax .] See Climacteric , n.
Climacteric <Xpage=265>
Cli*mac"ter*ic (? ∨ ?; 277) , a. [L. climactericus , Gr. <?/. See Climacter .] Relating to a climacteric; critical.
Climacteric <Xpage=265>
Cli*mac"ter*ic , n. 1. A period in human life in which some great change is supposed to take place in the constitution. The critical periods are thought by some to be the years produced by multiplying 7 into the odd numbers 3, 5, 7, and 9; to which others add the 81st year.
2. Any critical period.
It is your lot, as it was mine, to live during one of the grand climacterics of the world. Southey.
Grand ∨ Great climacteric , the sixty-third year of human life.
I should hardly yield my rigid fibers to be regenerated by them; nor begin, in my grand climacteric , to squall in their new accents, or to stammer, in my second cradle, the elemental sounds of their barbarous metaphysics. Burke.
Climacterical <Xpage=265>
Clim`ac*ter"ic*al (?) , a. & n. See Climacteric .
Evelyn.
Climatal <Xpage=265>
Cli"ma*tal (?) , a. Climatic.
Dunglison.
Climatarchic <Xpage=265>
Cli`ma*tar"chic (?) , a. [ Climate + Gr. <?/ to rule.] Presiding over, or regulating, climates.
Climate <Xpage=265>
Cli"mate (?) , n. [F. climat , L. clima , -atis , fr. Gr. <?/, <?/, slope, the supposed slope of the earth (from the equator toward the pole), hence a region or zone of the earth, fr. <?/ to slope, incline, akin to E. lean , v. i. See Lean , v. i. , and cf. Clime .] 1. (Anc. Geog.) One of thirty regions or zones, parallel to the equator, into which the surface of the earth from the equator to the pole was divided, according to the successive increase of the length of the midsummer day.
2. The condition of a place in relation to various phenomena of the atmosphere, as temperature, moisture, etc., especially as they affect animal or vegetable life.
Climate <Xpage=265>
Cli"mate , v. i. To dwell. [Poetic] Shak.
Climatic <Xpage=265>
Cli*mat"ic (?) , a. Of or pertaining to a climate; depending on, or limited by, a climate.
Climatical <Xpage=265>
Cli*mat"ic*al (?) , a. Climatic.
Climatize <Xpage=265>
Cli"ma*tize (?) , v. t. & i. [ imp. & p. p. Climatized (#) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Climatizing .] To acclimate or become acclimated.
Climatography <Xpage=265>
Cli`ma*tog"ra*phy (?) , n. [ Climate + -graphy .] A description of climates.
Climatological <Xpage=265>
Cli`ma*to*log"ic*al (?) , a. Of or pertaining to climatology.
Climatologist <Xpage=265>
Cli`ma*tol"o*gist (?) , n. One versed in, or who studies, climatology.
Climatology <Xpage=265>
Cli`ma*tol"o*gy (?) , n. [ Climate + -logy : cf. F. climatologie .] The science which treats of climates and investigates their phenomena and causes.
Brande & C.
Climature <Xpage=265>
Cli"ma*ture (?; 135) , n. [Cf. F. climature .] A climate. [Obs.]
Shak.
Climax <Xpage=265>
Cli"max (?) , n. [L., from Gr. <?/ ladder, staircase, fr. <?/ to make to bend, to lean. See Ladder , Lean , v. i. ] 1. Upward movement; steady increase; gradation; ascent.
Glanvill.
2. (Rhet.) A figure of which the parts of a sentence or paragraph are so arranged that each sicceeding one rise<?/ above its predecessor in impressiveness.
"Tribulation worketh patience, patience experience, and experience hope" -- a happy climax . J. D. Forbes.
3. The highest point; the greatest degree.
We must look higher for the climax of earthly good. I. Taylor.
To cap the climax , to surpass everything, as in excellence or in absurdity. [Colloq.]
Climb <Xpage=265>
Climb (?) , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Climbed (?) , Obs. or Vulgar Clomb (<?/) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Climbing .] [AS. climban ; akin to OHG. chlimban , G. & D. klimmen , Icel. kl\'c6fa , and E. cleave to adhere.] 1. To ascend or mount laboriously, esp. by use of the hands and feet.
2. To ascend as if with effort; to rise to a higher point.
Black vapors climb aloft, and cloud the day. Dryden.
3. (Bot.) To ascend or creep upward by twining about a support, or by attaching itself by tendrills, rootlets, etc., to a support or upright surface.
Climb <Xpage=265>
Climb , v. t. To ascend, as by means of the hands and feet, or laboriously or slowly; to mount.
Climb <Xpage=265>
Climb , n. The act of one who climbs; ascent by climbing.
Warburton.
Climbable <Xpage=265>
Climb"a*ble (?) , a. Capable of being climbed.
Climber <Xpage=265>
Climb"er (?) , n. One who, or that which, climbs : (a) (Bot.) A plant that climbs. (b) (Zo\'94l.) A bird that climbs, as a woodpecker or a parrot.
Climber <Xpage=265>
Climb"er , v. i. [From Climb ; cf. Clamber .] To climb; to mount with effort; to clamber. [Obs.]
Tusser.
Climbing <Xpage=265>
Climb"ing , p. pr. & vb. n. of Climb .
Climbing fern . See under Fern . -- Climbing perch . (Zo\'94l.) See Anabas , and Labyrinthici .
Clime <Xpage=265>
Clime (?) , n. [L. clima . See Climate .] A climate; a tract or region of the earth. See Climate .
Turn we to sutvey, Where rougher climes a nobler race display. Goldsmith.
Clinanthium <Xpage=265>
Cli*nan"thi*um (?) , n. [NL., fr. Gr. <?/ bed + <?/ flower.] (Bot.) The receptacle of the flowers in a composite plant; -- also called clinium .
Clinch <Xpage=265>
Clinch (?; 224) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Clinched (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Clinching .] [OE. clenchen , prop. causative of clink to cause to clink, to strike; cf. D. klinken to tinkle, rivet. See Clink .] 1. To hold firmly; to hold fast by grasping or embracing tightly. " Clinch the pointed spear."
Dryden.
2. To set closely together; to close tightly; as, to clinch the teeth or the first .
Swift.