Emily Dickinson Lexicon

cleaving, n. [see cleave, v.] (webplay: fit, split).

Splitting; separating; riving.

clef, n. [Fr. clef < L. clav-em, key.] (webplay: key).

Musical key; scheme or system of notes or tones definitely related to each other, in which a piece of music is written; such scheme being based upon and named after some particular note (the key-note).

clematis, n. [L. < Gk. klematis, some kind of climbing or trailing plant, probably periwinkle.]

Twining shrub that has flowers with a showy calyx and no corolla, and seed-vessels adorned with long feathery appendages; one name for clematis is “Traveler's Joy.”

clemency, n. [L. clementia < clement-em, mild, placid, gentle.] (webplay: forgive).

Mercy; leniency; compassionate treatment; mildness or gentleness of temper, as shown in the exercise of authority or power.

Cleopatra, proper n. [Gr. kleos, glory + patēr, father, 'fame of her fatherland'.]

Cleopatra VII (c. 69-30 B.C.); beautiful queen of Egypt; ill-fated woman known for her love affairs with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony; tragic heroine of Shakespeare's play Antony and Cleopatra [see ED's letters]; [fig] a powerful leader; an elegant person who enjoys excess.

clergyman (clergymen), n. [OFr clergie, clerkship.] (webplay: church, God, preach).

A man of the clerical order; an ordained minister of the Christian church.

clerk (-s), n. [OE cleric, man in a religious order.]

One who is employed in an office for keeping records and accounts.

click, n. [Du. and Ger. klick < OFr clique, the 'tick' of a clock or watch.] (webplay: seaman).

Light, sharp noise; slight, non-ringing sound.

climate, n. [Fr. climat < Gk. klin-ein, to slope, slope or inclination of the earth and sky from the equator to the poles.] (webplay: cold, country, seasons, temperature, tract).

Air temperature; condition of an area in relation to characteristics such as temperature, dryness or humidity, wind, clearness or dullness of sky, etc.

climb (-ed, -ing, -s), v. [OE clamb.] (webplay: black, feet, hands, little, ran, rise, seizing, slow, step, tree, wall).

Ascend; mount; scale; go up by hands and feet.