Part 283

Clef (kl&ebreve;f; 277), n. [F. clef key, a key in music, fr. L. clavis key. See Clavicle.] (Mus.) A character used in musical notation to determine the position and pitch of the scale as represented on the staff.

&fist; The clefs are three in number, called the C, F, and G clefs, and are probably corruptions or modifications of these letters. They indicate that the letters of absolute pitch belonging to the lines upon which they are placed, are respectively C, F, and G. The F or bass clef, and the G or treble clef, are fixed in their positions upon the staff. The C clef may have three positions. It may be placed upon the first or lower line of the staff, in which case it is called soprano clef, upon the third line, in which case it called alto clef, or upon the fourth line, in which case tenor clef. It rarely or never is placed upon the second line, except in ancient music. See other forms of C clef under C, 2.

Alto clef, Bass clef. See under Alto, Bass.

Cleft (kl&ebreve;ft), imp. & p. p. from Cleave.

Cleft, a. 1. Divided; split; partly divided or split.

2. (Bot.) Incised nearly to the midrib; as, a cleft leaf.

Cleft, n. [OE. clift; cf. Sw. klyft cave, den, Icel. kluft cleft, Dan. kl÷ft, G. kluft. See Cleave to split and cf. 2d Clift, 1st Clough.] 1. A space or opening made by splitting; a crack; a crevice; as, the cleft of a rock. Is. ii. 21.

2. A piece made by splitting; as, a cleft of wood.

3. (Far.) A disease in horses; a crack on the band of the pastern.

Branchial clefts. See under Branchial.

Syn. -- Crack; crevice; fissure; chink; cranny.

Cleft"-foot`ed (?), a. Having a cloven foot.

Cleft"graft` (?), v. t. To ingraft by cleaving the stock and inserting a scion. Mortimer.

Cleg (?), n. [Northern Eng. & Scot. gleg: cf. Gael. crethleag.] (Zo÷l.) A small breeze or horsefly. [North of Eng. & Scot.] Jamieson.

{ Cleis`to*gam"ic (?), Cleis*tog"a*mous (?) } a. [Gr. &?; closed (fr. &?; to shut) + ga`mos marriage.] (Bot.) Having, beside the usual flowers, other minute, closed flowers, without petals or with minute petals; -- said of certain species of plants which possess flowers of two or more kinds, the closed ones being so constituted as to insure self-fertilization. Darwin.

Clem (kl&ebreve;m), v. t. & i. [Cf. clam to clog, or G. klemmen to pinch, Icel. kl÷mbra, E. clamp.] To starve; to famish. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

Clem"a*tis (kl&ebreve;m"&adot;*t&ibreve;s), n. [NL., fr. Gr. klhmati`s brushwood, also (from its long, lithe branches) clematis. fr. klh^ma twig, shoot, fr. kla^n to break off.] (Bot.) A genus of flowering plants, of many species, mostly climbers, having feathery styles, which greatly enlarge in the fruit; -- called also virgin's bower.

Clem"ence (?), n. Clemency. [Obs.] Spenser.

Clem"en*cy (?), n.; pl. Clemencies (#). [L. clementia, fr. clemens mild, calm.] 1. Disposition to forgive and spare, as offenders; mildness of temper; gentleness; tenderness; mercy.

Great clemency and tender zeal toward their subjects. Stowe.

They had applied for the royal clemency. Macaulay.

2. Mildness or softness of the elements; as, the clemency of the season.

Syn. -- Mildness; tenderness; indulgence; lenity; mercy; gentleness; compassion; kindness.

Clem"ent (?), a. [L. clemens; -entis; cf. F. cl&?;ment.] Mild in temper and disposition; merciful; compassionate. Shak.

-- Clem"ent*ly, adv.

Clem"ent*ine (?), a. Of or pertaining to Clement, esp. to St. Clement of Rome and the spurious homilies attributed to him, or to Pope Clement V. and his compilations of canon law.

Clench (?), n. & v. t. See Clinch.

Clepe (klēp), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cleped (klēp"&ebreve;d) or (klēpt); p. pr. & vb. n. Cleping. Cf. Ycleped.] [AS. clepan, cleopian, clipian, clypian, to cry, call.] To call, or name. [Obs.]