Part 2004

<h1>Clinanthium</h1> <Xpage=265>

<hw>Cli*nan"thi*um</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[NL., fr. Gr. <?/ bed + <?/ flower.]</ety> <fld>(Bot.)</fld> <def>The receptacle of the flowers in a composite plant; -- also called <altname>clinium</altname>.</def>

<h1>Clinch</h1> <Xpage=265>

<hw>Clinch</hw> <tt>(?; 224)</tt>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p. p.</tt> <er>Clinched</er> <tt>(?)</tt>; <tt>p. pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Clinching</er>.]</wordforms> <ety>[OE. <ets>clenchen</ets>, prop. causative of <ets>clink</ets> to cause to clink, to strike; cf. D. <ets>klinken</ets> to tinkle, rivet. See <er>Clink</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>To hold firmly; to hold fast by grasping or embracing tightly.</def> "<i>Clinch</i> the pointed spear."

<i>Dryden.</i>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To set closely together; to close tightly; <as>as, to <ex>clinch</ex> the teeth or the first</as>.</def>

<i>Swift.</i>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>The bend or turn over the point of (something that has been driven trough an object), so that it will hold fast; <as>as, to <ex>clinch</ex> a nail</as>.</def>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>To make conclusive; to confirm; to establish; <as>as, to <ex>clinch</ex> an argument</as>.</def>

<i>South.</i>

<h1>Clinch</h1> <Xpage=265>

<hw>Clinch</hw>, <tt>v. i.</tt> <def>To hold fast; to grasp something firmly; to seize or grasp one another.</def>

<h1>Clinch</h1> <Xpage=265>

<hw>Clinch</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <p><b>1.</b> <def>The act or process of holding fast; that which serves to hold fast; a grip; a grasp; a clamp; a holdfast; <as>as, to get a good <ex>clinch</ex> of an antagonist, or of a weapon; to secure anything by a <ex>clinch</ex>.</as></def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>A pun.</def>

<i>Pope.</i>

<p><b>3.</b> <fld>(Naut.)</fld> <def>A hitch or bend by which a rope is made fast to the ring of an anchor, or the breeching of a ship's gun to the ringbolts.</def>

<h1>Clincher</h1> <Xpage=265>

<hw>Clinch"er</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <p><b>1.</b> <def>One who, or that which, clinches; that which holds fast.</def>

<i>Pope.</i>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>That which ends a dispute or controversy; a decisive argument.</def>

<h1>Clincher-built</h1> <Xpage=265>

<hw>Clinch"er-built</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>See <er>Clinker-built</er>.</def>

<h1>Cling</h1> <Xpage=265>

<hw>Cling</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>v. i.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p. p.</tt> <er>Clung</er> <tt>(?)</tt>, <er>Clong</er> (<?/), <mark>Obs.</mark>); <tt>p. pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Clinging</er>.]</wordforms> <ety>[AS. <ets>clingan</ets> to adhere, to wither; akin to Dan. <ets>klynge</ets> to cluster, crowd. Cf. <er>Clump</er>.]</ety> <def>To adhere closely; to stick; to hold fast, especially by twining round or embracing; <as>as, the tendril of a vine <ex>clings</ex> to its support</as>; -- usually followed by <i>to</i> or <i>together</i>.</def>

<blockquote>And what hath life for thee That thou shouldst <b>cling</b> to it thus? <i>Mrs. Hemans.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Cling</h1> <Xpage=265>

<hw>Cling</hw>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <p><b>1.</b> <def>To cause to adhere to, especially by twining round or embraching.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>