clethen

clethen

Middle English

Alternative forms

Etymology

    From Northumbrian Old English clǣðdon, variant of *clǣþian, from clǣþ; equivalent to clethe +‎ -en (infinitival suffix).

    Pronunciation

    • IPA(key): /ˈklɛːðən/

    Verb

    clethen

    1. (ambitransitive) To clothe; to put clothing on.
    2. (reflexive) To wear; to put clothing on oneself.
    3. (transitive) To give clothes or garments to.
    4. (transitive) To enclose; to surround as to hide.
    5. (rare, reflexive) To gain a trait; to immerse in an abstract quantity.
    6. (rare, ambitransitive) To decorate or ornament.

    Usage notes

    This verb is primarily found in Northern Middle English.

    Conjugation

    Conjugation of clethen (weak in -de)
    infinitive (to) clethen, clethe
    present tense past tense
    1st-person singular clethe cledde
    2nd-person singular clethest cleddest
    3rd-person singular cletheth cledde
    subjunctive singular clethe
    imperative singular —
    plural1 clethen, clethe cledden, cledde
    imperative plural cletheth, clethe —
    participles clethynge, clethende cled, clethed, ycled, yclethed

    1 Sometimes used as a formal 2nd-person singular.

    Descendants

    • English: clead (dialectal)
    • Scots: cleed, cleid, cleethe

    References

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