Forms: 4–5 clamur, -ure, -oure, 6 -ore (7 claymour), 4– clamour, clamor. [a. OF. clamor, clamur, 12–13th c. clamour (= Sp., Pr. clamor, It. clamore):—L. clāmōr-em a call, shout, cry, f. root of clāmā-re to cry out, shout.]
1. Loud shouting or outcry, vociferation; esp. the excited outcry of vehement appeal, complaint or opposition: commonly, but not always, implying a mingling of voices.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Knt.’s T., 137. The grete clamour [v.r. clamor] and the waymentynge Which that the ladies made at the brennynge Of the bodies.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 5997. Myche clamur & crie for care of hor dethe.
1483. Caxton, G. de la Tour, I vj. Our lord god … forgetteth not the clamour and prayer of the trewe and juste.
c. 1500. Lancelot, 3264. The clamore and the cryis Was lamentable and petws.
1523. Fitzherb., Husb., 169. He that stoppeth his eare at the clamoure or crie of a pore man.
1609. Skene, Reg. Maj., Table 71. Clamour, crying, and voice popular, sould follow ane manslayer.
1611. Shaks., Wint. T., I. ii. 189. Contempt and Clamor Will be my Knell.
1735. Berkeley, Def. Free-think. Math., § 22. The worst cause produceth the greatest clamour.
1828. Webster, Clamor.
1828–46. Whately, Elem. Rhet., I. ii. § 4. 68 (L.). Attempts to suppress evidence, or to silence a speaker by clamour.
1871. R. Ellis, Catullus, xl. 6. Wouldst thou … Break with clamour at any cost the silence?
b. with a, and pl. A shout, a cry; an outburst of noisy utterance.
1382. Wyclif, Esther ix. 31. Fastingis and clamoures [1388 the cries] and daȝes of lotis.
1483. Caxton, G. de la Tour, H ij b. Many clamours and orysons they hadde … made unto god.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 527. A greet clamour and a houge noise was herde through the towne.
1588. Shaks., L. L. L., V. ii. 874. Sickly eares, Deaft with the clamors of their owne deare grones.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., I. 234. Birds with clamours frighted from the Field.
1839. Thirlwall, Greece, VII. 145. He was interrupted in a speech by clamours of disapprobation.
2. fig. General vehement expression of feeling, especially of discontent or disapprobation (often including noisy manifestation); popular outcry.
[c. 1386. Chaucer, Wife’s T., 33. Ffor which oppression was swich clamour.]
1393. Gower, Conf., III. 263. The comun clamour tolde The newe shame of sinnes olde.
1480. Caxton, Chron. Eng., VII. (1520), 112 b/1. [He] had oftentymes herde the comyn clamoure of the Englysshe men.
1664. Power, Exp. Philos., II. 188. Though it be a Conceit that hath possess’d all ages … the Clamour was never so high as it is now.
1707. Freind, Peterborow’s Cond. Sp., 165. It was the general clamour here, that his Lordship gave an extravagant interest of 20 per cent.
1828. D’Israeli, Chas. I., I. iv. 55. The clamour for war continued, year after year, in our country.
1844. Ld. Brougham, Brit. Const., ix. § 1 (1862), 111. The clamour excited against an unpopular measure.
3. Loud vocal noise of beasts and birds.
1719. Young, Paraphr. Job (1750), 313 (R.).
| Who hears their Cry, who grants their hoarse Request, | |
| And stills the Clamour of the craving Nest? |
1748. Anson, Voy., III. ii. 309. The clamour … of domestic poultry, which range the woods.
1820. W. Irving, Sketch Bk., II. 60. The clamour of a troop of dogs of all sorts and sizes.
1859. Kingsley, Misc. (1860), II. 140. The sweet clamour of the wild fowl.
4. Loud noise of musical instruments; and, more generally, of a storm, waterfall, etc.
1592. Nobody & Someb. (1878), 328. Trumpets and drums, your dreadfull clamors sound!
1705. Addison, Italy, 374 (J.). Here the loud Anio’s boist’rous Clamours cease.
1729. Shelvocke, Artillery, II. 90. That Clamour which usually attends the burning of Saltpeter.
1850. Prescott, Peru, II. 214. The hideous clamour of conch, trumpet, and atabal.
1876. Swinburne, Erechtheus, 560. The clamour of his storms.
5. Comb., as clamour-proof adj.
1689. in Cobbett, Parl. Hist. Eng. (1809), V. 244. ‘His blood be upon him,’ meaning the Lord Chief Justice, who said, ‘Let it! I am clamour-proof!’
