Cleptomania - Climax

Cleptomania (?), n. [NL.] See .
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Clerestory (klērstōr�), n. Same as .
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Clergeon (klẽrjŭn), n. [F., dim. of clerc. See .] A chorister boy. [Obs.] Chaucer.
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Clergial (?), a. Learned; erudite; clerical. [Obs.] Chaucer.
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Clergical (?), a. Of or pertaining to the clergy; clerical; clerkily; learned. [Obs.] Milton.
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Clergy (?), n. [OE. clergie, clergi, clerge, OF. clergie, F. clergie (fr. clerc clerc, fr. L. clericus priest) confused with OF. clergié, F. clergé, fr. LL. clericatus office of priest, monastic life, fr. L. clericus priest, LL. scholar, clerc. Both the Old French words meant clergy, in sense 1, the former having also sense 2. See .]
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1. The body of men set apart, by due ordination, to the service of God, in the Christian church, in distinction from the laity; in England, usually restricted to the ministers of the Established Church. Hooker.
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2. Learning; also, a learned profession. [Obs.]
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Sophictry . . . rhetoric, and other cleargy. Guy of Warwick.
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Put their second sons to learn some clergy. State Papers (1515).
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3. The privilege or benefit of clergy.
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If convicted of a clergyable felony, he is entitled equally to his clergy after as before conviction. Blackstone.
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Coloq. Benefit of clergy (Eng., Law), the 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 clerks. This privilege was abridged and modified by various statutes, and finally abolished in the reign of George IV. (1827). -- Coloq. Regular clergy , Coloq. Secular clergy See , n., and , a.
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Clergyable (?), a. Entitled to, or admitting, the benefit of clergy; as, a clergyable felony. Blackstone.
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Clergyman (?), n.; pl. Clergymen (#). An ordained minister; a man regularly authorized to preach the gospel, and administer its ordinances; in England usually restricted to a minister of the Established Church.
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Cleric (?), n. [AS., fr. L. clericus. See .] A clerk, a clergyman. [R.] Bp. Horsley.
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Cleric (?), a. Same as .
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Clerical (?), a. [LL. clericalis. See .] 1. Of or pertaining to the clergy; suitable for the clergy. “A clerical education.” Burke.
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2. Of or relating to a clerk or copyist, or to writing. “Clerical work.” E. Everett.
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3. characteristic of the work performed by a clerk, secretary, or copyist, or suitable to be performed by a clerk. “Clerical staff.”
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Coloq. A clerical error , an error made in copying or writing.
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Clericalism (?), n. An excessive devotion to the interests of the sacerdotal order; undue influence of the clergy; sacerdotalism.
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clericals (?), n. pl. garments worn by the clergy. [informal]
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Clericity (?), n. The state of being a clergyman.
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Cleridae n. a natural family of beetles that prey on other insects.
Syn. -- family Cleridae.
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clerihew n. a witty satiric verse containing two rhymed couplets and mentioning a famous person.
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Clerisy (?), n. [LL. clericia. See .] 1. The literati, or well educated class.
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2. The clergy, or their opinions, as opposed to the laity.
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Clerk (klẽrk; in Eng. klärk; 277), n. [Either OF. clerc, fr. L. clericus a priest, or AS. clerc, cleric, clerk, priest, fr. L. clericus, fr. Gr. klhrikos belonging to the clergy, fr. klh^ros lot, allotment, clergy; cf. Deut. xviii. 2. Cf. .] 1. A clergyman or ecclesiastic. [Obs.]
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All persons were styled clerks that served in the church of Christ. Ayliffe.
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2. A man who could read; a scholar; a learned person; a man of letters. [Obs.] “Every one that could read . . . being accounted a clerk.” Blackstone.
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He was no great clerk, but he was perfectly well versed in the interests of Europe. Burke.
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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.
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And like unlettered clerk still cry “Amen”. Shak.
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4. One employed to keep records or accounts; a scribe; an accountant; as, the clerk of a court; a town clerk.
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The clerk of the crown . . . withdrew the bill. Strype.
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☞ 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.
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5. An assistant in a shop or store. [U. S.]
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Clerk-ale (? in Eng. �), n. A feast for the benefit of the parish clerk. [Eng.] T. Warton.
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Clerkless, a. Unlearned. [Obs.] E. Waterhouse.
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Clerklike (?), a. Scholarlike. [Obs.] Shak.
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Clerkliness (?), n. Scholarship. [Obs.]
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Clerkly, a. Of or pertaining to a clerk. Cranmer.
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Clerkly, adv. In a scholarly manner. [Obs.] Shak.
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Clerkship, n. State, quality, or business of a clerk.
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Cleromancy (?), n. [Gr. � lot + -mancy; cf. F. cléromancie.] A divination by throwing dice or casting lots.
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Cleronomy (?), n. [Gr. � inheritance + � to possess.] Inheritance; heritage.
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Clerstory (?), n. See .
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Clever (?), 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.
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Though there were many clever men in England during the latter half of the seventeenth century, there were only two great creative minds. Macaulay.
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Be good, sweet maid, and let who will be clever. C. Kingsley.
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2. Showing skill or adroitness in the doer or former; as, a clever speech; a clever trick. Byron.
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3. Having fitness, propriety, or suitableness.
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“T would sound more clever
To me and to my heirs forever. Swift.
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4. Well-shaped; handsome. “The girl was a tight, clever wench as any was.” Arbuthnot.
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5. Good-natured; obliging. [U. S.]

Syn. -- See .
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Cleverish (?), a. Somewhat clever. [R.]
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Cleverly, adv. In a clever manner.
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Never was man so clever absurd. C. Smart.
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Cleverness, n. The quality of being clever; skill; dexterity; adroitness.

Syn. -- See .
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Clevis (?), n. [Cf. to adhere, .] 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.
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{ Clew (klū), Clue, } n. [OE. clewe, clowe, clue, AS. cleowen, cliwen, clywe ball of thread; akin to D. kluwen, OHG. chliwa, chliuwa, G. dim. kleuel, knäuel, and perch. to L. gluma hull, husk, Skr. glaus sort of ball or tumor. Perch. akin to E. claw. √26. Cf. .] 1. A ball of thread, yarn, or cord; also, The thread itself.
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Untwisting his deceitful clew. Spenser.
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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.
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The clew, without which it was perilous to enter the vast and intricate maze of countinental politics, was in his hands. Macaulay.
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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.
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Coloq. 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. -- Coloq. 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. -- Coloq. Clew-line block (Naut.), The block through which a clew line reeves. See Illust. of .
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Clew, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Clewed p. pr. & vb. n. Clewing.] [Cf. D. kluwenen. See , n.] 1. To direct; to guide, as by a thread. [Obs.]
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Direct and clew me out the way to happiness. Beau. & Fl.
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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.
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Coloq. To clew down (Naut.), to force (a yard) down by hauling on the clew lines. -- Coloq. To clew up (Naut.), to draw (a sail) up to the yard, as for furling.
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Cliché (?), n. [F. cliché, from clicher to stereotype.] 1. A stereotype plate or any similar reproduction of ornament, or lettering, in relief.
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2. a trite or obvious remark.
Syn. -- platitude, banality, commonplace, bromide.
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Coloq. Cliché 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.
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cliched adj. repeated regularly without thought or originality.
Syn. -- ready-made, routine, stock(prenominal).
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Click (klĭk), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Clicked (klĭkt); p. pr. & vb. n. Clicking.] [Prob. an onomatopoetic word: cf. OF. cliquier. , and cf. , .] To make a slight, sharp noise (or a succession of such noises), as by gentle striking; to tick.
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The varnished clock that clicked behind the door. Goldsmith.
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Click, v. t. 1. To move with the sound of a click.
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She clicked back the bolt which held the window sash. Thackeray.
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2. To cause to make a clicking noise, as by striking together, or against something.
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[Jove] clicked all his marble thumbs. Ben Jonson.
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When merry milkmaids click the latch. Tennyson.
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Click, n. 1. A slight sharp noise, such as is made by the cocking of a pistol.
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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.
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Click, v. t. [OE. kleken, clichen. Cf. .] To snatch. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
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Click, n. [Cf. 4th , 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 .
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2. The latch of a door. [Prov. Eng.]
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Click beetle (?). (Zoöl.) See .
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Clicker (?), n. 1. One who stands before a shop door to invite people to buy. [Low, Eng.]
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2. (Print.) One who as has charge of the work of a companionship.
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Clicket (?), n. [OF. cliquet the latch of a door. See 5th .] 1. The knocker of a door. [Prov. Eng.]
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2. A latch key. [Eng.] Chaucer.
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clickety-clack, clickety-click n. a fast and rhythmic clicking sound, as of “click-clack”; as, the clickety-clack of the typewriters.
Syn. -- clickety-clack.
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Clicky (?), a. Resembling a click; abounding in clicks. “Their strange clicky language.” The Century.
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Clidastes (?), n. [NL., prob. from Gr. kleis key.] (Paleon.) A genus of extinct marine reptiles, allied to the Mosasaurus. See Illust. in Appendix.
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Cliency (?), n. State of being a client.
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Client (?), 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. çry, and E. loud: cf. F. client. See .] 1. (Rom. Antiq.) A citizen who put himself under the protection of a man of distinction and influence, who was called his patron.
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2. A dependent; one under the protection of another.
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I do think they are your friends and clients,
And fearful to disturb you. B. Jonson.
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3. (Law) One who consults a legal adviser, or submits his cause to his management.
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Clientage (?), n. 1. State of being client.
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2. A body of clients. E. Everett.
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Cliental (?), a. Of or pertaining to a client.
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A dependent and cliental relation. Burke.
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I sat down in the cliental chair. Dickens.
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Cliented (?), a. Supplied with clients. [R.]
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The least cliented pettifiggers. R. Carew.
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Clientelage (?), n. See , n., 2.
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Clientele (? or ?), n. [L. clientela: cf. F. clientèle.] 1. The condition or position of a client; clientship. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
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2. The clients or dependents of a nobleman of patron.
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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.
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Clientship (?), n. Condition of a client; state of being under the protection of a patron. Dryden.
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Cliff (klĭf), n. [AS. clif, cloef; akin to OS. klif, D. klif, klip, Icel. klif, Dan. & G. klippe, Sw. klippa; perh. orig. a climbing place. See .] A high, steep rock; a precipice.
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Coloq. Cliff swallow (Zoöl.), a North American swallow (Petrochelidon lunifrons), which builds its nest against cliffs; the eaves swallow.
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Cliff, n. (Mus.) See . [Obs.]
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cliffbrake n. any of several small lithophytic ferns of tropical and warm temperate regions.
Syn. -- cliff brake, rock brake.
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cliffhanger n. a contest whose outcome is uncertain up to the very end.
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2. an episode of a drama that ends in suspense.
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clifflike adj. characterized by cliffs; -- of a shore or shoreline; -- contrasted with beachy. [Narrower terms: precipitous, steep]
Syn. -- cliffy.
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Cliff limestone (?). (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.
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Cliffy (?), a. Having cliffs; broken; craggy.
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Clift (?), n. [See 1st , n.] A cliff. [Obs.]
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That gainst the craggy clifts did loudly roar. Spenser.
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Clift, n. [See , n.] 1. A cleft of crack; a narrow opening. [Obs.]
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2. The fork of the legs; the crotch. [Obs.] Chaucer.
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Clifted, a. [From a cleft.] Broken; fissured.
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Climb the Ande� clifted side. Grainger.
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Climacter (?), n. [L., fr. Gr. �, prop., round of a ladder, fr. � ladder: cf. F. climactère. See .] See , n.
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Climacteric (? or ?; 277), a. [L. climactericus, Gr. �. See .] Relating to a climacteric; critical.
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Climacteric, 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.
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2. Any critical period.
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It is your lot, as it was mine, to live during one of the grand climacterics of the world. Southey.
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climb-down n. 1. a retraction of a previously held position.
Syn. -- withdrawal, backdown.
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Coloq. Grand climacteric or Coloq. Great climacteric , the sixty-third year of human life.
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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.
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Climacterical (?), a. & n. See . Evelyn.
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Climactic (?), a. Of or pertaining to a climax; forming, or of the nature of, a climax, or ascending series.

A fourth kind of parallelism . . . is still sufficiently marked to be noticed by the side of those described by Lowth, viz., climactic parallelism (sometimes called “ascending rhythm”). S. R. Driver.
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Climatal (?), a. Climatic. Dunglison.
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Climatarchic (?), a. [Climate + Gr. � to rule.] Presiding over, or regulating, climates.
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Climate (?), 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 , v. i., and cf. .] 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.
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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.
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Climate, v. i. To dwell. [Poetic] Shak.
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Climatic (?), a. Of or pertaining to a climate; depending on, or limited by, a climate.
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Climatical (?), a. Climatic.
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Climatize (?), v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Climatized (#); p. pr. & vb. n. Climatizing.] To acclimate or become acclimated.
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Climatography (?), n. [Climate + -graphy.] A description of climates.
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Climatological (?), a. Of or pertaining to climatology.
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Climatologist (?), n. One versed in, or who studies, climatology.
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Climatology (?), n. [Climate + -logy: cf. F. climatologie.] The science which treats of climates and investigates their phenomena and causes. Brande & C.
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Climature (?; 135), n. [Cf. F. climature.] A climate. [Obs.] Shak.
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Climax (?), n. [L., from Gr. � ladder, staircase, fr. � to make to bend, to lean. See , , v. i.] 1. Upward movement; steady increase; gradation; ascent. Glanvill.
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2. (Rhet.) A figure in which the parts of a sentence or paragraph are so arranged that each succeeding one rises above its predecessor in impressiveness.
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“Tribulation worketh patience, patience experience, and experience hope” -- a happy climax. J. D. Forbes.
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3. The highest point; the greatest degree.
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We must look higher for the climax of earthly good. I. Taylor.
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