_clerge_--L.,--Gr. _kl[=e]rikos_, from _kl[=e]ros_, a lot, then the clergy.]
CLERK, klark, 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. _knauel_.]
CLICHe, 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.]
CLIME, kl[=i]m, _n._ a country, region, tract. [A variety of CLIMATE.]
CLINAMEN, klin-[=a]'men, _n._ inclination. [L. _clin[=a]re_, to incline.]
CLINANTHIUM, klin-an'thi-um, _n._ the receptacle in a composite plant. [Gr.
_klin[=e]_, a bed, _anthos_, a flower.]
CLINCH, klinsh, CLENCH, klensh, _v.t._ to fasten or rivet a nail by bending the point and beating the bent part flat against the object through which the nail was driven: to grasp tightly: to set firmly, as the teeth: to fasten on: (_fig._) to drive home an argument: to settle or confirm.--_n._ something set firmly: the fastening of a nail by beating it back, as in the verb: a pun.--_n._ CLINCH'ER, one that clinches: a decisive argument.--_adj._ CLINCH'ER-BUILT (same as CLINKER-BUILT).--_n._ CLINCH'ER-WORK, the disposition of the side planks of a vessel, when the lower edge of one row overlaps the row next under it. [Causal form of _klink_, to strike smartly; Dut. and Ger. _klinken_, to rivet a bolt.]
CLING, kling, _v.i._ to adhere or stick close by winding round: to adhere in interest or affection: to remain by an opinion: of wood, to shrink.--_v.t._ to attach: to shrivel:--_pa.t._ and _pa.p._ clung.--_n._ adherence.--_adjs._ CLING'STONE, having the pulp adhering firmly to the stone (of peaches)--opp. to _Freestone_; CLING'Y, sticky. [A.S. _clingan_, to shrivel up, to draw together.]
CLINIC, -AL, klin'ik, -al, _adj._ pertaining to a bed: (_med._) applied to instruction given in hospitals at the bedside of the patient.--_n._ CLIN'IC, one confined to bed by sickness: the teaching of medicine or surgery practically at the bedside of the patient--also CLIN'IQUE.--_adv._ CLIN'ICALLY.--CLINICAL BAPTISM, baptism administered to persons on their sick-bed; CLINICAL CONVERT, one converted on his death-bed; CLINICAL MEDICINE, or SURGERY, medicine or surgery as taught by clinics, a CLINICAL LECTURE being one delivered to students at the bedside of the sick. [Gr.
_klinikos_--_klin[=e]_, a bed, from _klinein_, to recline.]
[Illustration]
CLINK, klingk, _n._ a ringing sound made by the striking together of sounding bodies: jingle.--_v.t._ to cause to make a ringing sound.--_v.i._ to ring or jingle: to go with a clinking sound.--_n._ CLINK'ER, the name given to the scales or globules of black oxide of iron, obtained from red-hot iron under the blows of a hammer: the slags of iron furnaces: the cindery-like masses which form the crust of some lava-flows.--_adj._ CLINK'ER-BUILT, made of planks which overlap each other below (as distinguished from carvel-built) and are fastened together with clinched nails.--_n._ CLINK'STONE, a greenish-gray or brownish compact, or very finely crystalline igneous rock, splitting into slabs, which give a metallic clink when struck by a hammer. [A form of CLICK and CLANK.]
CLINK, klingk, _v.t._ to clinch: to rivet. [Scot. for CLINCH.]
CLINOMETER, kl[=i]-nom'e-t[.e]r, _n._ an instrument for measuring the angle of inclination or dip of a stratum.--_adj._ CLINOMET'RIC.--_n._ CLINOM'ETRY. [Gr. _klinein_, to incline, _metron_, a measure.]
CLINQUANT, klingk'ant, _adj._ shining like tinsel: glittering.--_n._ tinsel: glitter. [Fr.,--Dut. _klinken_, to clink.]
CLIO, kl[=i]'o, _n._ the muse of history and epic poetry: (_zool._) a genus of shell-less molluscs in the class of Pteropods, swarming in northern and southern seas, and named by the whalers 'whales' food,' one species of which constitutes a principal part of the food of whales. [Gr. _kleein_, to call.]
CLIP, klip, _v.t._ to cut by making the blades of shears meet: to cut off: to debase the coin by cutting off the edges: to diminish.--_v.i._ to go quickly:--_pr.p._ clip'ping; _pa.p._ clipped.--_n._ the thing clipped off, as the wool that has been shorn off sheep: a smart blow.--_adj._ CLIPPED, cut short.--_ns._ CLIP'PER, one that clips: a sharp-built, fast-sailing vessel: (_slang_) a dashing person; CLIP'PING, the act of cutting, esp.
debasing coin by cutting off the edges: the thing clipped off.--_adj._ superb: fast-going.--CLIP THE WINGS, to cut a bird's wings to prevent it from flying: (_fig._) to restrain ambition: to deprive of the means of rising. [Prob. from Ice. _klippa_, to cut; Dan. _klippe_.]
CLIP, klip, _v.t._ (_Shak._) to embrace: to encircle: to hold firmly.--_n._ an instrument for holding things firm. [A.S. _clyppan_, to embrace; Ice.
_klpa_, to pinch; Ger. _kluppe_, pincers.]
CLIQUE, kl[=e]k, _n._ a group of persons in union for a purpose: a party or faction: a gang--used generally in a bad sense.--_adj._ CLIQU'ISH, relating to a clique.--_ns._ CLIQU'ISHNESS; CLIQU'ISM, tendency to form cliques.
[Fr.; prob. from root of _click_, and so = a noisy conclave. Acc. to Littre, orig. in sense of CLAQUE.]
CLISH-CLASH, klish'-klash, CLISHMACLAVER, klish'makl[=a]v'[.e]r, _n._ gossip. [Scot.]
CLISTOGAMY, klis-tog'a-mi, _n._ a peculiar dimorphism in the flowers of a plant when these do not expand and are systematically close or self-fertilised.--_adjs._ CLISTOG'AMOUS, CLISTOGAM'IC. [Gr. _kleistos_, closed, _gamos_, marriage.]
CLITELLUM, kli-tel'um, _n._ the saddle of an annelid, as the earthworm:--_pl._ CLITELL'A. [L.]
CLITHRAL, klith'ral, _adj._ with a roof that forms a complete covering.
[Gr.]
CLITORIS, kl[=i]'t[=o]-ris, _n._ a homologue of the penis present, as a rudimentary organ, in the female of many higher vertebrates.--_ns._ CL[=I]'TORISM; CLITOR[=I]'TIS. [Gr.]
CLITTER, klit'[.e]r, _v.t._ and _v.i._ to make, or cause to make, a shrill rattling noise.--_n._ CLITT'ER-CLATT'ER, idle talk, chatter. [Related to CLATTER.]
CLIVERS. Same as CLEAVERS (q.v. under CLEAVE).
CLOACA, kl[=o]-[=a]'ka, _n._ a sewer: a privy: a cavity in birds and reptiles, in which the intestinal and urinary ducts terminate: a sink of moral filth:--_pl._ CLOACae (kl[=o]-[=a]'s[=e]).--_adjs._ CLO[=A]'CAL, CLO[=A]'CINAL. [L. _clo[=a]ca_--_clu[)e]re_, to purge.]
CLOAK, CLOKE, kl[=o]k, _n._ a loose outer garment: a covering: that which conceals: a disguise, pretext.--_v.t._ to clothe with a cloak: to cover: to conceal.--_ns._ CLOAK'-BAG (_obs._), a portmanteau; CLOAK'-ROOM, a room set apart for keeping cloaks, coats, hats, &c., at a theatre, railway station, &c. [O. Fr. _cloke_, _cloque_--Low L. _cloca_, a bell, also a horseman's cape, because bell-shaped, from root of CLOCK.]
CLOAM, kl[=o]m, _n._ and _adj._ earthenware, clay, or made of such. [A.S.