clæne

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Old English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Proto-West Germanic *klainī. Cognate with Old Saxon klēni, Old High German kleini.

Pronunciation

Adjective

clǣne

  1. clean
    Gā and dō on clǣne hemeþe.
    Go and put on a clean shirt.
  2. pure
    clǣne gold
    pure gold
    • late 10th century, Ælfric, Lives of Saints
      Þā brōhte sē cniht tō þām clǣnan mǣdene dēorwurþa ġimmas and woruldlīċe glenċġa and behēt hire welan ġif hēo wolde hine.
      Then the boy brought the pure maiden valuable gems and worldly decorations and promised her riches if she would him.
  3. clear
    • early 12th century, the Peterborough Chronicle
      Þā niht wæs sēo lyft swīðe clǣnu and þā steorran ofer ealne þone heofon swīðe beorhte sċīnende.
      That night, the air was very clear, and all the stars in the sky were shining very brightly.

Declension

Derived terms

Descendants

  • Middle English: clene
    • English: clean
    • Scots: clene, clein