CLEM, klem, _v.i._ and _v.t._ to starve. [Prov. Eng. _clam_; Ger.
_klemmen_, to pinch.]
CLEMATIS, klem'a-tis, _n._ a creeping plant, called also _Virgin's Bower_
and _Traveller's Joy_. [L.,--Gr. _kl[=e]matis_--_kl[=e]ma_, a twig.]
CLEMENT, klem'ent, _adj._ mild: gentle: kind: merciful.--_ns._ CLEM'ENCE
(_Spens._), CLEM'ENCY, the quality of being clement: mildness: readiness to
forgive.--_adv._ CLEM'ENTLY. [Fr.,--L. _clemens_.]
CLENCH, klensh. Same as CLINCH.
CLEPE, kl[=e]p, _v.t._ (_arch._) to call: to name.--_pa.p._ YCLEPT. [A.S.
_clipian_, to call.]
CLEPSYDRA, klep'si-dra, _n._ an instrument used by the Greeks and Romans
for measuring time by the trickling of water. [L.,--Gr.
_klepsydra_--_kleptein_, _klepsein_, to steal, _hyd[=o]r_, water.]
CLERESTORY, CLEAR-STORY, cl[=e]r-st[=o]'ri, _n._ an upper row of windows
rising above the adjoining parts of the building, probably so named as
admitting _clearness_ or light--esp. applied to the windows in the upper
part of the central nave of churches.
CLERGY, kl[.e]r'ji, _n._ the ministers of the Christian religion, as
holders of an allotted office, in contradistinction to the laity.--_adjs._
CLER'GYABLE, CLER'GIABLE, entitled to or admitting of the benefit of
clergy.--_ns._ CLER'GYMAN, one of the clergy, a regularly ordained
minister; CLER'GY-WOM'AN, a woman belonging to a clergyman's
family.--_adjs._ CLER'IC, -AL, belonging to the clergy: pertaining to a
clerk.--_ns._ CLER'IC, a clergyman; CLER'ICALISM, undue influence of the
clergy, sacerdotalism; CLER'ICATE, clerical position; CLERIC'ITY, state of
being a clergyman; CLER'ISY, the class of learned men,
scholars.--CLERGYMAN'S SORE THROAT, chronic pharyngitis.--BENEFIT OF
CLERGY, originally an exemption of clergymen, in certain cases, from
criminal process before a secular judge, but later covering the first
offence of all who could read.--BLACK CLERGY, in Russia, the regular or
monastic, as distinct from the secular or parochial, clergy. [Fr.
_clergé_--L.,--Gr. _kl[=e]rikos_, from _kl[=e]ros_, a lot, then the
clergy.]
CLERK, klärk, or klerk, _n._ a clergyman or priest: a scholar: one who
leads the responses in the English Church service: in common use, one
employed as a writer, assistant, copyist, account-keeper, or correspondent
in an office.--_v.i._ to act as clerk.--_adj._ CLER'ICAL, pertaining to a
clerk or copyist, as in 'clerical error.'--_ns._ CLERK'DOM, CLERK'SHIP;
CLERK'ERY, CLERK'AGE, the work of a clerk.--_adjs._ CLERK'ISH, like a
clerk; CLERK'LESS, ignorant; CLERK'-LIKE, scholarly.--_n._ CLERK'LING, a
young clerk.--_adj._ CLERK'LY, scholarly.--_adv._ in a scholar-like or
learned manner.--CLERK OF THE WEATHER, an imaginary functionary facetiously
supposed to direct the weather.--BIBLE CLERK, a scholar who reads the
lessons in some college chapels. [A.S. _clerc_, a priest--Late L.
_clericus_. See CLERGY.]
CLEROMANCY, kler'o-man-si, _n._ divination by lots. [Gr. _kl[=e]ros_, lot,
_manteia_, divination.]
CLER-STORY, an obsolete form of CLERESTORY.
CLEUCH, Cleugh, kl[=u]h, _n._ a ravine with steep and precipitous sides.
[Scotch form of CLOUGH.]
CLEVE, kl[=e]v, _n._ cliff: hillside. [Now rare. M. E. _cleof_, a variant
of CLIFF.]
CLEVER, klev'[.e]r, _adj._ able or dexterous: ingenious: skilful: (_U.S._)
good-natured.--_ns._ CLEVERAL'ITY, CLEV'ERNESS.--_adj._ CLEV'ERISH,
somewhat clever.--_adv._ CLEV'ERLY. [Ety. dub.]
CLEW, CLUE, kl[=oo], _n._ a ball of thread, or the thread in it: a thread
that guides through a labyrinth: anything that solves a mystery: the corner
of a sail.--_v.t._ to coil up into a clew or ball: to truss or tie up sails
to the yards.--_n._ CLEW'-GAR'NET (_naut._), a tackle for clewing up the
smaller square sails for furling.--_n.pl._ CLEW'-LINES, ropes on the
smaller square sails by which they are clewed up for furling. [A.S.
_cliwen_; cf. Dut. _kluwen_; Ger. _knäuel_.]
CLICHÉ, kl[=e]-sh[=a]', _n._ the impression made by a die in any soft
metal: an electrotype or stereotype plate. [Fr.,--_clicher_, to
stereotype.]
CLICK, klik, _n._ a short, sharp clack or sound: anything that makes such a
sound, as a small piece of iron falling into a notched wheel: a latch for a
gate.--_v.i._ to make a light, sharp sound.--_ns._ CLICK'-CLACK, a
continuous clicking noise; CLICK'ER, the compositor who distributes the
copy among a companionship of printers, makes up pages, &c.: one who cuts
up leather for the uppers and soles of boots and shoes; CLICK'ING, the
action of the verb. [Dim. of CLACK.]
CLIENT, kl[=i]'ent, _n._ one who employs a lawyer: a dependent.--_n._
CL[=I]'ENTAGE, the whole number of one's clients: the client's relation to
the patron.--_adj._ CL[=I]ENT'AL.--_ns._ CL[=I]'ENTELE, a following: the
whole connection of a lawyer, shopkeeper, &c.; CL[=I]'ENTSHIP. [L.
_cliens_, for _cluens_, one who hears or listens (to advice), from
_clu[=e]re_, to hear.]
CLIFF, klif, _n._ (_mus._). Same as CLEF.
CLIFF, klif, _n._ a high steep rock: the steep side of a mountain.--_adjs._
CLIFFED, CLIFF'Y, having cliffs: craggy. [A.S. _clif_; Dut. _clif_; Ice.
_klif_.]
CLIFT. See CLEFT (2).
CLIFT, klift, _n._ same as CLIFF, the form arising under the influence of
CLEFT.--_adjs._ CLIFT'ED, CLIFT'Y, broken into cliffs.
CLIMACTERIC, klim-ak-t[.e]r'ik, or klim-ak't[.e]r-ik, _n._ a critical
period in human life, in which some great bodily change is supposed to take
place: a critical time.--_adj._ pertaining to such a period:
critical.--_adj._ CLIMACTER'ICAL.--THE GRAND CLIMACTERIC, the sixty-third
year, supposed to be a critical period for men. [Gr.
_klimakt[=e]r_--_klimax_, a ladder.]
CLIMATE, kl[=i]'m[=a]t, _n._ the condition of a country or place with
regard to temperature, moisture, &c.: (_fig._) character of
something.--_v.i._ (_Shak._) to remain in a certain place.--_adjs._
CL[=I]'MATAL, CLIMAT'IC, -AL, relating to climate.--_v.t._ CL[=I]'MATISE
(see ACCLIMATISE).--_adj._ CLIMATOGRAPH'ICAL.--_n._ CLIMATOG'RAPHY, a
description of climates.--_adj._ CLIMATOLOG'ICAL, relating to
climatology.--_ns._ CLIMATOL'OGIST, one skilled in the science of
climatology; CLIMATOL'OGY, the science of climates, or an investigation of
the causes on which the climate of a place depends; CL[=I]'MATURE
(_Shak._), climate. [Fr.,--L.,--Gr. _klima_, _klimatos_, slope--_klinein_,
to slope.]
CLIMAX, kl[=i]'maks, _n._ (_rhet._) the arranging of the particulars of a
portion of a discourse so as to rise in strength to the last: the last term
of the rhetorical arrangement: a culmination.--_v.i._ to ascend in a
climax: to culminate.--_adjs._ CLIMACT'IC, -AL, pertaining to a
climax.--_adv._ CLIMACT'ICALLY. [Gr. _klimax_, a ladder--from _klinein_, to
slope.]
CLIMB, kl[=i]m, _v.i._ or _v.t._ to ascend or mount by clutching with the
hands and feet: to ascend with difficulty: to mount.--_adj._ CLIMB'ABLE,
capable of being climbed.--_ns._ CLIMB'ER, one who or that which climbs:
(_pl._) an old-fashioned popular title for several orders of birds whose
feet are mainly adapted for climbing: (_bot._) those plants which, having
weak stems, seek support from other objects, chiefly from other plants, in
order to ascend from the ground; CLIMB'ING. [A.S. _climban_; cf. Ger.
_klimmen_; conn. with CLAMBER and CLEAVE, to stick.]