clean

clean
clean (adj.) O.E. clæne "clean, pure," from W.Gmc. *klainoz "clear, pure" (Cf. O.S. kleni "dainty, delicate," O.Fris. klene "small," O.H.G. kleini "delicate, fine, small," Ger. klein "small;" English preserves the original Germanic sense), from PIE root *gel- "to gleam" (Cf. Gk. glene "eyeball," O.Ir. gel "bright"). O.E. also had an adverbial form, "clearly, fully, entirely." As an adjective, replaced in higher senses by clear, pure, but as a verb (mid-15c.) it has largely usurped what once belonged to CLEANSE (Cf. cleanse). The adjective clean in the sense of "innocent" is from c.1300; that of "not lewd" is from 1867; that of "free of drug addiction" is 1950s.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?
Synonyms:

Look at other dictionaries:

  • clean — clean …   Dictionnaire des rimes

  • clean — [klēn] adj. [ME clene < OE clæne, clean, pure < IE * ĝ(e)lēi < base * ĝel , to gleam > OIr gel, gleaming, white, OHG kleini, gleaming, bright, fine (> Ger klein, small)] 1. a) free from dirt, contamination, impurities, etc.;… …   English World dictionary

  • clean — ► ADJECTIVE 1) free from dirt, pollutants, or harmful substances. 2) morally pure: clean living. 3) not obscene. 4) attentive to personal hygiene. 5) showing or having no record of offences or crimes: a clean driving licence. 6) played or done… …   English terms dictionary

  • Clean — (kl[=e]n), a. [Compar. {Cleaner} (kl[=e]n [ e]r); superl. {Cleanest}.] [OE. clene, AS. cl[=ae]ne; akin to OHG. chleini pure, neat, graceful, small, G. klein small, and perh. to W. glan clean, pure, bright; all perh. from a primitive, meaning… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Clean — may refer to: Music The Clean, an influential first wave punk band Clean (album), an industrial album by Deitiphobia Clean , a song by Depeche Mode from their 1990 album Violator Clean, an amplifier sound in guitar terminology Clean, an Edwin… …   Wikipedia

  • clean — adj Clean, cleanly are often confused. Clean is applied to a person or thing that is actually free from dirt; cleanly to a person or animal whose habit or tendency is to be clean; thus, one who is cleanly, though not always able to keep clean,… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • clean — clean; clean·a·bil·i·ty; clean·a·ble; clean·li·ly; clean·li·ness; clean·ness; house·clean; re·clean; un·clean; un·clean·li·ness; bio·clean; un·clean·ly; un·clean·ness; …   English syllables

  • Clean — «Clean» Canción de Depeche Mode Álbum Violator Publicación 19 de marzo de 1990 Grabación …   Wikipedia Español

  • clean — [ klin ] adj. inv. • 1978; mot angl. « propre » ♦ Anglic. fam. 1 ♦ Qui a un air propre, soigné. Une allure, un look clean. Un intérieur clean. 2 ♦ Qui est sain, net moralement. Spécialt Qui ne prend pas de drogue. Être clean (opposé à speedé) . ● …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Clean — Семантика: функциональный Автор(ы) …   Википедия

  • clean-up — (v.), clean up (adj.),or cleanup (n.) (1) An informal phrase used by lenders to describe a provision in loan documents, usually the promissory notes used for lines of credit. The clean up provision requires that the loan balance outstanding under …   Financial and business terms

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”