Clear a., adv. and sb.

Forms: 3–5 cler, (4 clier, clyre, clyer), 4–7 clere, 4–8 cleer, 5–7 cleere, (5 clure, 6 cleir, clar), 6–7 cleare, (8–9 dial. clair), 6– clear. [ME. cler, a. OF. cler (11–16th c.; 14th– clair), corresp. to Pr. clar, Sp. claro, It. chiaro:—L. clār-um bright, clear, manifest, plain, brilliant, illustrious, famous, etc. Senses 1–13 were already present in French; the further developments of the sense are peculiar to English, and partly due to association with the native word CLEAN, the earlier domain of which has been largely occupied by clear, while in various uses the two are still synonymous. But the now predominant notion of ‘unencumbered, free, rid’ is a further development, not found in CLEAN.]

  I.  Of light, color, things illuminated.

  1.  † a. orig. Expressing the vividness or intensity of light: Brightly shining, bright, brilliant.

1297.  R. Glouc. (1724), 416. Ther come … a leme swythe cler & bryȝte.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Moder of God, 29. O blessed lady, the cleer light of day.

1393.  Gower, Conf., III. 129. The first sterre Aldeboran, the clerest and the most of alle.

1450–1530.  Myrr. Our Ladye, 210. The lyghte of the sonne is moche more clerer then the lyghte of the morow tyde.

1611.  Bible, Song Sol. vi. 10. Faire as the moone, cleare as the sunne.

1667.  Milton, P. L., XI. 840. And the cleer Sun on his wide watrie Glass Gaz’d hot.

  b.  Now expressing the purity or uncloudedness of light; clear fire, a fire in full combustion without flame or smoke. Also used with adjs., as clear white, brown, etc.

1611.  Bible, 2 Sam. xxiii. 4. The tender grasse springing out of the earth by cleare shining after raine.

1613.  Shaks., Hen. VIII., I. i. 226. This infant Clowd … Darkning my cleere Sunne.

1796.  Mrs. Glasse, Cookery, iii. 24. Take care your fire is clear.

1814.  Wordsw., White Doe, VII. 96. A Doe most beautiful, clear-white.

1888.  Cassell’s Dict. Cookery, Introd. 17. If a cook … has a good clear fire.

Mod.  This oil burns with a clearer flame.

  fig.  1818.  Cruise, Digest, V. 364. The nature of an action of ejection … would appear in a clearer light.

  2.  a. Of the day, daylight, etc.: Fully light, bright; opposed to dusk or twilight. arch.

c. 1320.  Sir Beues, 755. A morwe, whan hit was dai cler, Ariseþ kniȝt and squier.

1483.  Caxton, Gold. Leg., 267/1. He endyted the lettre by clere day.

1535.  Coverdale, 1 Sam. xiv. 36. Spoyle them tyll it be cleare mornynge, that we let none escape. Ibid., Amos viii. 9. I shall cause … the londe to be darcke in the cleare-day.

1568.  Grafton, Chron., II. 100. It was done in the cleare day light.

1603.  Shaks., Meas. for M., IV. ii. 226. Come away, it is almost cleere dawne.

1871.  R. Ellis, Catullus, lxiv. 408. Bear not daylight clear upon immortality breathing.

  † b.  Of the weather: orig. Full of sunshine, bright, ‘fine’; serene, ‘fair.’ Obs. (Cf. to clear up.)

1382.  Wyclif, Matt. xvi. 2. Ȝe seien, It shal be cleer, for the heuene is lijk to reed.

c. 1400.  Maundev., iii. 17. And abouen at the cop of the hille [Athos] is the Eir so cleer that men may fynde no wynd there.

c. 1440.  Promp. Parv., 81. Clere, as wedur ys bryghte, clarus, serenus.

1568.  Grafton, Chron., II. 210. The weather was fayre, cleere, and temperate. Ibid., II. 273. There fell a great raine … with a terrible thunder…. Then anone the ayre began to waxe cleare, and the sonne to shine fayre and bright.

1633.  T. James, Voy., 78. It was pretty and cleere.

  c.  Now: Free from cloud, mists and haze; a ‘clear day,’ ‘clear weather’ is that in which the air is transparent so that distant objects are distinctly seen; a ‘clear sky,’ a sky void of cloud.

1297.  R. Glouc. (1724), 41. Þat heo myȝte oft y se, in cler weder, þere Est ward, as þe sonne a ros, a lond as yt were.

1393.  Gower, Conf., I. 35. Now cloudy and now clere it is.

1568.  Grafton, Chron., II. 276. If the day had bene clere, there had not escaped a man.

1699.  Dampier, Voy., II. III. Disc. on Winds, etc. vii. 86. We commonly find it Cloudy over the Land, tho’ ’tis clear every where beside.

1774.  Goldsm., Nat. Hist. (1776), I. 278. Their remains continue still visible at the bottom of the water in a clear day.

1872.  E. Peacock, Mabel Heron, I. ix. 141. A clear, frosty evening.

  d.  fig. Serene, cheerful; of unclouded countenance or spirit. Obs. or arch.

c. 1374.  Chaucer, Boeth., II. iv. 45. Þou … shalt leden a cleer age.

1483.  Caxton, Gold. Leg., 208/4. Paule … enduryng in agonye and alle wey apperid clere.

1590.  Shaks., Mids. N., III. ii. 61. You, the murderer, look as bright, as cleare, As yonder Venus.

1667.  Milton, P. L., VIII. 336. Sternly he pronounc’d The rigid interdiction … but soon his cleer aspect Return’d.

1726.  Shelvocke, Voy. round World (1757), 76. Enough to cast a damp upon the clearest spirits.

1853.  Lytton, My Novel, III. x. His brow grew as clear as the blue sky above him.

  3.  Allowing light to pass through, transparent.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 11705. A well vte-brast, wid strem suete, clere, and cald.

a. 1400–50.  Alexander, 2541. Clerire [v.r. clerar] þan cristall.

1576.  Fleming, Panoplie Ep., A. A cleere looking glasse rendreth a lively and perfect representation.

1584.  R. Scot, Discov. Witchcr., XIII. xix. 258. Diverse kinds of glasses … the coloured and the cleare glasses.

1667.  Milton, P. L., IV. 458. To look into the cleer Smooth Lake, that to me seemd another Skie.

1798.  Coleridge, Anc. Mar., VI. xvi. The harbour-bay was clear as glass.

  b.  Of colored liquids, etc.; Translucent, pellucid, free from sediment, not turbid or opaque.

1483.  Cath. Angl., 66. Clere as ale or wyne.

1626.  Bacon, Sylva, § 378. A Bottle of Beer … became more lively, better tasted and clearer than it was.

1745.  Swift, Direct. Servants, Butler. A dozen or two of good clear wine.

1747.  Wesley, Prim. Physick (1762), Introd. p. xvii. Drink only Water, if it agrees with your Stomach; If not, good clear Small-beer.

1799.  G. Smith, Laboratory, I. 389. Having another tub ready at hand, with a clear lye, rinse your silk.

1838.  Dickens, O. Twist, xxiii. Real, fresh, genuine port-wine … clear as a bell, and no sediment.

  4.  Bright or shining, as polished illuminated surfaces; lustrous. (Now expressing esp. purity and evenness of luster).

a. 1300.  Fragm. Pop. Sc. (Wright), 84. The mone … bileveth cler towards the sonne, thother del al blac.

c. 1330.  R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 28. Tuenti pounde of gold be ȝere, þre hundreth of siluer clere.

1340.  Ayenb., 167. Gold þet þe more hit is ine uere: þe more hit is clene, and clyer, and tretable.

c. 1420.  Anturs of Arth., xxix. A croune cumly … clure to behold.

1475.  Caxton, Jason, 30. His good swerd that was clere and trenchaunt.

1652.  Needham, trans. Selden’s Mare Cl., 192. The teeth … are as white and clear as Ivorie.

1753.  W. Stewart, in Scots Mag., March, 133/2. A dark-coloured coat with clear buttons.

1841–4.  Emerson, Ess. Spir. Laws, Wks. (Bohn), I. 66. His eye is as clear as the heavens.

  † b.  gen. Bright, splendid, brilliant. Obs.

c. 1340.  Cursor M., 8917 (Trin.). Sende was þere an aungel clere And vp to heuen her soule bere.

1362.  Langl., P. Pl., A. VI. 75. A Court Cleer as þe Sonne.

1382.  Wyclif, Ezek. xxvi. 12. Thi ful clere [præclaras] housis. Ibid., Jam. ii. 3. Clothid with ful cleer [præclara] clooth.

c. 1385.  Chaucer, L. G. W., 1825, Lucrece. This lady … al discheuele with hire herys cleere.

c. 1410[?].  Sir Cleges, 365. Sir Cleges … schewed the kynge the cheryse clere.

  fig.  1382.  Wyclif, Wisd. vi. 13. Wisdam is cler [1611 glorious], and that neuere welewith.

1387.  Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), VI. 411. Þe monkes … were of cleer religioun [splendidæ religionis] in God.

  † c.  A common epithet of women: Beautiful, beauteous, fair. Obs.

c. 1420.  Chron. Vilod., 116. Both erlys and harnesse and ladyes cler.

c. 1430.  Hymns Virg. (1867), 56. Vp þei baren þat maiden cleere.

a. 1440.  Sir Degrev., 1550. The bold bachylere Toke the damysele clere.

1513.  Douglas, Æneis, X. iv. 94. Manthus the lady cleir.

1578.  Lyte, Dodoens, VI. i. 656. The cleare and pleasant Venus.

  d.  Of the complexion, skin, etc.: Bright, fresh, and of pure color; blooming: in modern use, esp. implying purity or transparency of the surface skin, and absence of freckles, discoloring spots, or ‘muddiness’ of complexion.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 7365. In visage es he bright and clere.

c. 1440.  York Myst., xxx. 41. The coloure of my corse is full clere.

1571.  Campion, Hist. Irel., I. vi. (1633), 17. Cleare men they are of Skinne and hue.

1592.  Constable, Sonn., IV. x. Maid of cleere mould.

1698.  Vanbrugh, Prov. Wife, I. ii. Without vanity, I look’d extremely clear last night, when I went to the park.

1801.  J. Hutchinson, in Med. Jrnl., V. 360. Persons of delicate fibres, of smooth, lax, and clear skin.

1826.  Disraeli, Viv. Grey, V. iii. 174. Her complexion was clear, but quite olive.

  † 5.  fig. Illustrious. [So L. clārus.] Obs.

c. 1374.  Chaucer, Boeth., II. ii. 36. Wiþ noble or clere honours.

1382.  Wyclif, Judith xvi. 16. A gret God thou art, and beforn alle cleer in thi vertue. Ibid., 1 Macc. ii. 17. Thou art prince, and most cleer.

1432–50.  trans. Higden (Rolls), I. 89. He hade mony clere victories.

1483.  Caxton, Gold. Leg., 83/2. Judith retorned … and was made more grete and cleer to alle men.

1605.  Shaks., Lear, IV. vi. 73. Thinke that the cleerest Gods, who make them Honors Of mens Impossibilities, haue preserued thee.

  II.  Of vision, perception, discernment.

  6.  Of lines, marks, divisions: Clearly seen, distinct, well-marked, sharp.

1835.  W. Irving, Tour Prairies, 230. A prairie…, extending in a clear blue line along the horizon.

1853.  Lytton, My Novel, VI. xvi. 316. The leaves covered with notes and remarks, in a stiff clear hand.

1872.  Morley, Voltaire (1886), 23. No prophet all false has succeeded in separating a nation into two clear divisions.

1875.  Jevons, Money (1878), 128. [Coins] with a low but sharp and clear impression.

1882.  J. H. Blunt. Ref. Ch. Eng., II. 2. Traced out in clear outline.

  7.  Of words, statements, explanations, meaning: Easy to understand, fully intelligible, free from obscurity of sense, perspicuous.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 11615 (Cott.). Þan com þe propheci al cler.

c. 1325.  E. E. Allit. P., B. 26. Þat þus of clannesse vn-closez a ful cler speche.

1533.  More, Answ. Poisoned Bk., Wks. 1055/2. The clere fayth and sentence of al the holy doctors.

1615.  Bedwell, Moham. Impost., III. § 108. The words are cleare and plaine.

1688.  Bunyan, Jerus. Sinner Saved (1886), 17. The text is as clear as the sun; for it saith, ‘Begin at Jerusalem.’

1751.  Jortin, Serm. (1771), I. v. 84. The Ten Commandments therefore are clear.

1849.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., II. 615. How was it possible to draw up a statute in language clearer than the language of the statutes which required that the dean of Christ Church should be a Protestant?

1860.  Maury, Phys. Geog. Sea, xii. § 540. Having … made clear the meaning of the question proposed.

1878.  Hopps, Princ. Relig., xvii. 55. Man himself is the clearest revelation of his Maker.

  b.  Also transferred to the speaker or writer.

1711.  Addison, Spect., No. 165, ¶ 1. The English cannot be too clear in their Narrative of those Actions.

1875.  Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), III. 319. If I have made myself clear, you will understand my original meaning.

  8.  Of a vision, conception, notion, view, memory, etc.: Distinct, unclouded, free from confusion.

1398.  Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., II. v. (1495), 32. Bryghte and clere knowynge of god.

1526.  Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 3 b. To haue the contemplacyon & clere visyon of that moost blessed face.

1679.  J. Goodman, Penitent Pard., III. v. (1713), 346. Clear and satisfying notion of this separate state.

1690.  Locke, Hum. Und., II. xxix. (1695), 199. Our simple Ideas are clear, when they are such as the Objects themselves, from whence they were taken, did, in a well-ordered Sensation or Perception, present them.

1826.  Macaulay, in Trevelyan, Life & Lett., I. iii. 144. His notions of law and government are extremely clear.

1872.  E. Peacock, Mabel Heron, I. vi. 97. A clear remembrance of Bill Foster’s crimes.

  9.  Manifest to the mind or judgment, evident, plain.

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 55. It is cleer þat prelatis þat prechen not þus þe gospel louen not crist.

c. 1450.  Voc., in Wr.-Wülcker, 581. Euidens, cler opyn.

1594.  Hooker, Eccl. Pol., III. § 1 (1604), 124 (T.). Onely vnto God … they are cleare and manifest.

1627.  Massinger, Gt. Dk. Florence, IV. ii. ’Tis clear as air That your ambitious hopes … gave connivance to it.

1794.  Paley, Evid., I. ix. § 1. This … letter contains nearly 40 clear allusions to books of the New Testament.

1855.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., III. 246. No man was invited to the Upper House whose right to sit there was not clear.

1856.  Froude, Hist. Eng. (1858), II. ix. 339. In the midst of the unreality, it became clear that one man at least was serious.

  b.  Of a case at law: Of which the solution is evident.

1664.  Butler, Hud., III. II. 189. Quoth Hudibras, The case is clear.

1805.  in East, Reports, V. 335. The Court … thought the case too clear for further argument.

1884.  G. Denman, in Law Reports, 29 Chanc. Div. 473. This is not quite so clear a point as the other.

  10.  Of the eyes, and faculty of sight: Seeing distinctly, having keen perception.

1576.  Fleming, Panoplie Ep., 63. You, having so cleare and sharpe a sight.

1621–31.  Laud, Sev. Serm. (1847), 4. The eye of the prophet was clear, and saw things farther off than the present.

1667.  Milton, P. L., IX. 706. Your Eyes that seem so cleere, Yet are but dim, shall perfetly be then Op’nd and cleerd.

1872.  Morley, Voltaire (1886), 7. His sight was exquisitely keen and clear.

  11.  Of the faculty of discernment: That sees, discerns or judges without confusion of ideas.

1340.  Ayenb., 24. Clier wyt, wel uor to understonde.

a. 1400–50.  Alexander, 2372. Of witt clerest.

c. 1440.  Promp. Parv., 81. Clere of wytt & vndyrstondy[n]ge, perspicax.

1580.  Sidney, Arcadia, I. (1590), 48. Receive a cleere understanding.

1662.  Fuller, Worthies (1840), II. 536. A good patriot, of a quick and clear spirit.

1709.  Pope, Ess. Crit., III. 732. The dearest head, and the sincerest heart.

1856.  Sir B. Brodie, Psychol. Inq., I. i. 29. The faculty of reasoning correctly (or what is commonly called having a clear head) if for the most part a natural gift.

a. 1862.  Buckle, Misc. Wks. (1872), I. 168. Clear thinkers always have a clear style.

  12.  Of persons: Having a vivid or distinct impression or opinion; subjectively free from doubt; certain, convinced, confident, positive, determined. Const. † in (an opinion, belief), † of (a fact), as to, on, about (a fact, course of action), for (a course of action); that. I am clear that = it is clear to me that. [So in 12th c. Fr.]

1604.  Hieron, Wks. (1624), I. 500. I am cleere in it, that many then in that darkness did … ‘See day at a very little hole.’

1628.  Sir B. Ruddierd, in Fuller, Ephemeris Parl. (1654), 155. I am clear, without scruple, that what we have resolved is according to law.

1645.  Pagitt, Heresiogr. (1661), 208. He is so cleer for the abolishing of the Jewes day, and the succeeding of the Lord’s day.

1727.  J. Asgill, Metamorph. Man, 27. His disciples were not so clear in their belief of him.

1768.  Ross, Helenore, 67 (Jam.). Dwell ye there? That of their dwelling ye’re so very clair.

1769.  Mrs. Harris, in Lett. 1st Earl Malmesb. (1870), I. 179. I am not clear as to the particulars.

c. 1776.  A. Murphy, in G. Colman, Posth. Lett. (1820), 204. Of this I am clear, that, if it stood over to another year [etc.].

1791.  Boswell, Johnson, an. 1781, Mch. 30. We were, by a great majority, clear for the experiment.

1793.  Smeaton, Edystone L., § 142. Being clear in the operation … I proceeded to the business without apprehension of difficulty.

1815.  Mad. D’Arblay, Diary & Lett. (1846), VII. 181. About the middle of July—but I am not clear of the date.

1833.  Ht. Martineau, Brooke Farm, ii. 25. I … am not clear on the point.

1842.  J. H. Newman, Ch of Fathers, 106. You may be clear … with whom it is fitting to hold communion.

1849–50.  Alison, Hist. Europe, XII. lxxix. 78. Moreau … was clear for reverting to the Constitution of 1792.

1853–9.  Macaulay, Biog. (1860), Introd. 10. I am not clear that the object is a good one.

1867.  Freeman, Norm. Conq., I. App. 763. I am not quite clear about the date.

1884.  Manch. Exam., 21 May, 5/1. As to the necessity of including Ireland in its scope he was clear.

  III.  Of sound.

  13.  Of sounds, voice: Ringing, pure and well-defined, unmixed with dulling or interfering noises; distinctly audible.

c. 1300.  Beket, 1097. In a visioun ther com A cler voiz.

1398.  Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XIX. cxxxi. (1495), 942. The voys is clere that sownyth well and ryngeth wythout ony holownesse.

c. 1475[?].  Sqr. lowe Degre, 61. Notes clere.

1500.  Dunbar, Gold. Targe, 129. And sang ballettis with michty notis clere.

1606.  Shaks., Tr. & Cr., IV. ii. 114. Cracke my cleere voyce with sobs.

1674.  Playford, Skill Mus., I. v. 20. Observe that in the Tuning of your Voyce you strive to have it cleer.

1708.  Pope, St. Cecilia’s Day, 12. Hark! the numbers soft and clear, Gently steal upon the ear.

1836.  Dubourg, Violin, ix. (1878), 270. His instruments give a round and clear tone from the first and second strings, but are dull on the third.

1853.  Lytton, My Novel, IX. ix. A clear, open, manly voice cried—.

  IV.  Of moral purity, innocence.

  14.  fig. from 3: Pure, guileless, unsophisticated.

1382.  Wyclif, 2 Pet. iii. 1. This secounde epistle, in which I stire ȝoure cleer [v.r. clene] soule in monestinge to gydere.

1636.  Sir H. Blount, Voy. Levant (1637), 114. Nothing corrupts cleare wits more then desperate fortunes.

1637.  Milton, Lycidas, 70. Fame is the spur that the clear spirit doth raise.

1791.  Burke, App. Whigs, Wks. VI. 184. Men of clear honour.

1856.  Trevelyan, in G. O. Trevelyan, Macaulay (1876), II. xv. 479. A life, every action of which was clear and transparent.

  15.  Unspotted, unsullied; free from fault, offence or guilt; innocent. Cf. CLEAN a.

c. 1400.  Rom. Rose, 5088. Fro foly Love to kepe hem clere.

1523.  Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. clxii. 200. A great company … who were also departed fro the felde with clere handes. Ibid. (1534), Gold. Bk. M. Aurel. (1546), Nn iij. Not a clere louer but a thefe.

1605.  Shaks., Macb., I. vii. 18. Duncane … hath bin So cleere in his great Office.

1611.  Bible, 2 Cor. vii. 11. In all things yee haue approued your selues to be cleare in this matter.

1659.  Sir H. Vane, in Burton, Diary (1828), IV. 271. Were not divers of them hanged? Was not that an argument that the rest are clear?

1784.  Cowper, Task, II. 153. No: none are clear, And none than we more guilty.

  b.  Const. of, from.

1552.  Bk. Com. Prayer, Ordering of Deacons, Vntyl suche tyme as the partie accused, shal trye himself clere of that cryme.

1590.  Spenser, F. Q., II. i. 37. Cleare she dide from blemish criminall.

1611.  Bible, Susanna 46. I am cleare [1535 Coverd. clene] from the blood of this woman. Ibid. (1885) (Revised), Ps. xix. 13. I shall be clear from great transgression.

  V.  Of free, unencumbered condition.

  16.  Of income, gain, etc.: Free from any encumbrance, liability, deduction or abatement; unencumbered; net.

c. 1500.  Debate Carp. Tools, in Halliwell, Nugæ Poeticæ, 14.

1590.  Swinburne, Treat. Test., 184. My executors, to whom I bequeath the rest of my cleare goodes.

1625.  Burges, Pers. Tithes, 1. The Tenth part of all his cleere Gaines.

1696.  Southerne, Oroonoko, I. i. A clear estate, no charge upon it.

1714.  Swift, Imit. Horace, Sat. II. 6. I’ve often wish’d that I had clear For life, six hundred pounds a year.

1817.  Cobbett, Wks., XXXII. 20. It was a clear thousand a year for doing little or nothing.

1833.  Ht. Martineau, Berkeley B., I. iv. 80. It seems to be a clear loss to use them unproductively.

  † b.  Sheer, mere, bare, unaided. Obs.

1614.  Bp. Hall, Heaven upon Earth, 119. I have seene one man by the helpe of a little engine lift up that weight alone which fortie helping hands by their cleare strength might have endeavored in vain.

  17.  Free from all limitation, qualification, question or shortcoming; absolute, complete; entire, pure, sheer. Cf. CLEAN.

1529.  More, Comf. agst. Trib., III. Wks. 1212/1. Those Christen countreys … he … reckeneth for clere conquest, and vtterly taketh for his owne.

1568.  Grafton, Chron., II. 106. The cleare possession of all the realme of England to him and his heyres for ever. Ibid., Edw. IV., II. 665. To sayle vnto Englande, for the cleere finishing of the same [a matrimonial alliance].

1635.  Brome, Sparagus Gard., II. iii. I have foure hundred pounds sir; and I brought it up to towne on purpose to make my selfe a cleare gentleman of it.

1661.  Marvell, Corr., xxx. Wks. 1872–5, II. 73. We are giuen to belieue by those who retard the Act of Indemnity, that it shall passe cleare.

1681.  Chetham, Angler’s Vade-m., xl. § 20 (1689), 296. For his more clearer satisfaction.

1692.  R. L’Estrange, Josephus’ Antiq., VIII. vi. (1733), 221. You will find in all Respects the clear contrary.

  18.  Free from encumbering contact; disengaged, unentangled, out of reach, quite free; quit, rid.

1658–9.  in Burton’s Diary (1828), III. 331. I am free and clear to debate.

1769.  Falconer, Dict. Marine (1784), Clear, as a naval term … is expressed of cordage, cables, &c. when they are unembarrassed or disentangled so as to be ready for immediate service. It is usually opposed to foul.

1823.  Scoresby, N. Whale Fishery, 303. We slacked the ship astern until it [an iceberg] was quite clear ahead, and had placed itself across the bows.

  a.  with from.

1576.  Fleming, Panoplie Ep., 125. That Trebianus may be set cleare from danger.

1693.  Dryden, Juvenal, Ded. viii. (1697), (T.). He who is .. clear from any [faults] in his own Writings.

1785.  Burke, Let. Ld. Thurlow, Corr. (1844), III. 36. My motives are clear from private interest.

1815.  Scribbleomania, 135. May I from shoals and from quicksands get clear!

  b.  with of. Quit, rid, free.

1568.  Grafton, Chron., II. 389. Fearyng insurrection of the Commons, which were not all clere of their Melancholy.

1601.  Shaks., Twel. N., IV. i. 4. Let me be cleere of thee.

1720.  De Foe, Capt. Singleton, xv. (1840), 266. We were clear of the isles.

1732.  Pope, Ep. Bathurst, 279. Of debts and taxes, wife and children, clear.

1866.  G. Macdonald, Ann. Q. Neighb., ix. (1878), 135. Stooping his tall form to get his gray head clear of the low archway.

1870.  E. Peacock, Ralf Skirl., III. 101. As soon as the house was clear of the representatives of the law.

  c.  In such phrases as to get or keep (oneself) clear, to steer clear, go clear, stand clear, the adjective passes at length into an adverb.

1596.  Shaks., Merch. V., I. i. 134. How to get cleere of all the debts I owe. Ibid. (1602), Ham., IV. vi. 19. On the instant they got cleare of our Shippe.

1627.  Capt. Smith, Seaman’s Gram., xiii. 61. Cut any thing to get cleare.

1699.  Dampier, Voy., II. III. Disc. on Winds, etc. i. 3. These constant Trade-Winds usually blow … 30 or 40 Leagues off at Sea, clear from any Land.

1711.  Steele, Spect., No. 38, ¶ 4. To get clear of such a light Fondness for Applause.

1713.  Guardian, No. 1, ¶ 5. If I can keep clear of these two evils.

1722.  De Foe, Col. Jack (1840), 248. We came clear of the suburbs. Ibid. (1725), Voy. round World (1840), 90. Twice she struck upon the rocks, but she did but touch, and went clear.

1737.  Common Sense (1738), I. 25. The handsomest Women … keep the clearest from these Extravagancies.

1745.  P. Thomas, Jrnl. Anson’s Voy., 284. The Prize … soon after fell foul with her Head on our Starboard Quarter…; however, we bore her off as well as we could, and she soon fell clear of us.

1840.  R. H. Dana, Bef. Mast, xi. 25. We got clear of the islands before sunrise.

1853.  Lytton, My Novel, VIII. vii. He is safest from shoals who steers clearest of his—relations.

1866.  J. Martineau, Ess., I. 180. They sit perfectly clear of each other.

1873.  Black, Pr. Thule, xxvi. 430. Start clear on a new sort of life.

1885.  Law Times, LXXIX. 366/2. The curtains … will hang clear of the doors.

  d.  With sb. of action.

1732.  Gentl. Instr., 75 (D.). Among the Lacedemonians, a clear [1704 clearer] Theft [i.e., in which the thief got clear off] pass’d for a Vertue.

1858.  Trollope, Dr. Thorne, xxxvii. (Hoppe). I want to ask you a few questions so as to make it all clear sailing between us.

  19.  Of measurement of space or time: combining the notions of senses 17, 18.

  a.  Of distance. Cf. C. 5.

1849.  Dickens, Dav. Copp., IV. xiv. A brook seventeen feet clear from side to side.

Mod.  The opening must measure 3 feet clear.

  b.  Clear side (of a ship): see quot.

1873.  Act 36 & 37 Vict., c. 85 § 4. The term ‘clear side’ means the height from the water to the upper side of the plank of the deck.

  c.  Clear day or days: a day or days, with no part occupied or deducted.

1868.  E. Yates, Rock Ahead, III. vi. There must be a clear day … before he could receive the reply.

1885.  Law Times Reports (N.S.), LIII. 386/2. He is bound upon principle to allow refreshers for every clear day after five hours’ hearing.

1885.  Act 48 & 49 Vict., c. 80 § 2 (b). Not less than six clear days notice of such meeting shall … [be] given.

  20.  Free from obstructions or obstacles; unoccupied by buildings, trees, furniture, etc.; open.

1568.  Grafton, Chron., II. 375. When they perceyved that all was cleere, they went forth.

1584.  Greene, Myrr. Modestie, Wks. (Grosart), III. 18. Seeing the coast cleere.

1694.  Narborough, Acc. Sev. Late Voy., I. (1711), 67. There are several clear places in the Woods.

1707.  Curiosities Husb., 256. It should be expos’d to the clear Air, in a place not shelter’d from the Wind.

1716.  Pope, Ess. Homer’ Battels, II. 6 (J.). A clear Stage is left for Jupiter, to display his Omnipotence and turn the Fate of Armies alone.

1769.  Falconer, Dict. Marine (1789), M b. The sea-coast is called clear when the navigation is not interrupted, or rendered dangerous by rocks.

1862.  Stanley, Jew. Ch. (1877), I. ix. 181. The way was now clear to the Jordan.

1874.  Micklethwaite, Mod. Par. Churches, 217. The clear space west of the pews.

  b.  Free from roughnesses, protuberances, knots, branches; = CLEAN a. 12.

1642.  Fuller, Holy & Prof. St., V. ix. 390. God, when he means to shave clear, chooses a razour with a sharp edge.

1822.  Cobbett, in Rur. Rides (1886), I. 109. I saw several oaks … with a clear stem of more than forty feet.

  c.  Clear ship: a ship whose deck is cleared for action.

1745.  P. Thomas, Jrnl. Anson’s Voy., 280. It was both pleasing and surprizing to see how soon every Thing was clear for engaging. Ibid., 297. We made a clear Ship,… and put ourselves in a Posture ready for fighting.

1748.  Anson, Voy., II. iv. 163. We had soon a clear ship, ready for an engagement.

  21.  Free or emptied of contents, load or cargo; empty; esp. of a ship, when discharged.

1607.  Topsell, Four-f. Beasts (1673), 155. Never after the female is filled till she have been clear one whole year.

1805.  Nelson, 6 April, in Nicolas, Disp. (1846), VI. 399. One of our Transports will be clear tonight.

  22.  Free from any encumbrance or trouble; out of debt; out of the hold of the law.

1655.  Sir J. Mennis & J. Smith, Musarum Deliciæ (1817), 8 (N.).

1722.  De Foe, Col. Jack (1840), 313. I was now a clear man.

1715.  Gay, What d’ye call it, II. ii. (1716), E 2 (J.). Five pounds, if rightly tipt, would set me clear.

1767.  Blackstone, Comm., II. 484. Thus the bankrupt becomes a clear man again.

  23.  Free from pecuniary complications.

1712.  in T. W. Marsh, Early Friends in Surrey & S., xiii. 119. Things are not clear at home on his part—debts being contracted, just payment delayed.

a. 1714.  Burnet, Own Time (1823), I. 436. The duke of Richmond’s affairs, it was true, were not very clear.

a. 1843.  Southey, Roprecht the Robber, IV. I would that all my flock, like thee, Kept clear accounts with Heaven and me!

  † 24.  slang. Very drunk. Obs.

1688.  Shadwell, Sqr. Alsatia, I. iv. Yes, really I was clear: for I do not remember what I did.

1690.  B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, Clear, very Drunk.

1697.  Vanbrugh, Relapse, IV. iii. I suppose you are clear—you’d never play such a trick as this else.

1725.  New Cant. Dict.

  25.  U.S. slang. Free from admixture, unadulterated, pure, ‘real.’ Clear grit: ‘real stuff’: see quots.

1837–40.  Haliburton, Clockm., Ser. III. xxxii. (Hoppe). Champaigne … if you get the clear grit, there is no mistake in it. Ibid., Ser. III. xii. Is it [a piece of land] refuse or super-fine, clear stuff or only merchantable? Ibid., Sam Slick in Engl., xxii. Solid silver, the clear thing, and no mistake.

1884.  Fortn. Rev., May, 592. There arose up [in Canada] a political party of a Radical persuasion, who were called Clear-Grits, and the Clear-Grits declared for the secularisation of the Clergy Reserves.

  B.  adv. [Clear is not originally an adverb, and its adverbial use arose partly out of the predicative use of the adjective, as in ‘the sun shines clear’; partly out of the analogy of native English adverbs which by loss of final -e had become formally identical with their adjectives, esp. of CLEAN adv., which it has largely supplanted.]

  1.  Brightly, with effulgence; with undimmed or unclouded luster. [Cf. bright similarly used.]

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 291. Þe sune … schines clere.

c. 1385.  Chaucer, L. G. W., 2220, Ariadne. The stonys of hire Corone shyne clere.

1548.  Udall, etc. Erasm. Par. Acts, 206. The glory of thy ghospell maye the clearer shyne.

1576.  Kinwelmersh, in Farr, S. P. Eliz. (1845), II. 293. King Phœbus shines so cleere.

1621.  G. Hakewill, K. Davids Vow, 188. Thereby … may … our vertues shine the clearer.

a. 1679.  Orrery, Mustapha, II. That her Gratitude may clearer shine.

1888.  T. Watts, in Sharp’s Sonn. of Cent., 247. So calm they shone and clear.

  † 2.  In a clear or perspicuous manner; distinctly. Obs. (now CLEARLY.)

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 9754. He mai vnder-stand al cler Þat þar es in [etc.].

1556.  Lauder, Tractate, 357. Merk, heir, how I haue schawin ȝow cleir The way.

1667.  Milton, P. L., XII. 377. Now clear I understand.

1688.  R. L’Estrange, Hist. Times, III. 23. He saw things clearer and clearer.

1690.  Locke, Hum. Und., IV. xvii. § 4. 342 (J.). Many men that reason exceeding clear and rightly, who know not how to make a Syllogism.

1768–74.  Tucker, Lt. Nat. (1852), II. 179. So as clearer to discern and readier to execute new matters.

a. 1784.  W. G. Hamilton, Parl. Logick (1808), 99. By method you understand a thing clearer.

  † 3.  Manifestly, evidently. Obs. (now CLEARLY).

1562.  J. Heywood, Prov. & Epigr. (1867), 106. This wager I wyn cléere.

  4.  With clear voice; distinctly; CLEARLY.

c. 1450.  Merlin, xvi. 261. Merlin … cried high and cleer.

1681.  P. Rycaut, trans. Gracian’s Critick, 116. No man spake clear, equal, or without artifice.

1782.  Cowper, Gilpin, 204. While he spoke, a braying ass Did sing both loud and clear.

  † 5.  Completely, quite, entirely, thoroughly; = CLEAN adv. 5. Obs.

1513.  Douglas, Æneis, X. xi. 55. All the victory … and chancis … May be reducit and alterat clar agane.

1523.  Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. clxvi. 204. Who soeuer toke any prisoner, he was clere his.

1535.  Act 27 Hen. VIII., c. 7 § 3. Owners … haue ben clere without remedie.

1568.  Grafton, Chron., II. 477. That all Civile discorde shoulde … be cleere forgotten.

a. 1682.  Sir T. Browne, Tracts (1684), 58. They cut not down clear at once, but used an after section.

1688.  R. L’Estrange, Hist. Times, III. 40. He is Now got into Clear Another story.

1690.  Locke, Govt., Wks. 1727, II. I. ii. § 6. 104. The Day is clear got.

  b.  With away, of, out, through, over, and the like; esp. where there is some notion of getting clear of obstructions, or of escaping; = CLEAN.

1600.  Holland, Livy, IX. xxii. 329. The Romanes went clear away with the better [haud dubie superat].

1689.  Swift, Ode Temple. She soars clear out of sight.

1697.  Dampier, Voy. (1698), I. i. 17. A Tree to fell across the River … which we cut down, and it reach’d clear over.

1738.  E. S., R. L’Estrange Æsop in Verse, 161. He bit it off clear.

1865.  Carlyle, Fredk. Gt., VI. XVI. xii. 281. Collini and he … were on the edge of being clear off.

1880.  McCarthy, Own Times, IV. lii. 109. The fancy franchises were swept clear away.

1885.  Manch. Weekly Times, 12 Sept., 6/4. The thieves got clear away.

1883.  Stevenson, Silverado Sq. (1886), 33. It was clear in our teeth from the first.

  6.  See other quasi-adverbial uses in A. 18 c.

  C.  sb.

  I.  Elliptical uses of the adjective.

  † 1.  A fair lady, a ‘fair.’ Obs.

c. 1330.  R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 318. Elizabeth þat clere.

c. 1340.  Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 1489. I kende yow of kyssyng quod þe clere þenne.

c. 1440.  Bone Flor., 78, in Ritson, Metr. Rom., III. 4. Y have herde of a clere, Florens that ys feyre.

  † 2.  Brightness, clearness. Obs.

1589.  Lodge, Delectable Disc. Satyre, 38 (N.). Thy cleere with cloudy darkes is scar’d.

1590.  Greene, Never too late (1600), 104. No cleere appeard vpon the azurd skie.

c. 1611.  Chapman, Iliad, I. 458. Twilight hid the clear.

  † 3.  The clear part of a mirror. Obs.

1587.  Golding, De Mornay, xiv. 205. If the cleere of the Glasse had any peculiar shape of it owne, the Glasse could yeelde none of these shapes at all.

  4.  Painting. (pl.) Lights as opposed to shades.

1814.  Month. Mag., XXXVIII. 213. You will weaken both the clears and the obscures. [Cf. CLEAR-OBSCURE.]

  5.  Clear space, part of anything clear of the frame or setting; phr. in the clear, in interior measurement. See A. 19.

1715.  Desaguliers, Fires Impr., 124. Supposing … the Hole … to be 30 inches in the clear, that is, on the inside.

1823.  Scoresby, N. Whale Fishery, Introd. 41. A church fifty feet long, and twenty broad, in the clear.

1847.  F. W. Newman, Hist. Hebrew Mon., 128. Seventy cubits in the clear.

  II.  Verbal sb. from CLEAR v.

  6.  A clearing of the atmosphere, sky or weather.

1694.  Narborough, Acc. Sev. Late Voy., I. (1711), 22. Between nine and ten a Clock there was a fine clear, by which I saw the Land very plainly.

1804.  Naval Chron., XI. 168. The wind shifted … accompanied with a clear.

  D.  Combinations.

  1.  With the adj.: chiefly parasynthetic; as clear-aired (having clear air), clear-crested, -faced, -featured, -hearted, -limbed, -minded, -pointed, -spirited, -stemmed, -throated, -toned, -voiced, -walled, -witted, etc.

1596.  R. L[inche], Diella (1877), 26. Cleer-fac’d morning makes her bright vprise.

1634.  Sir T. Herbert, Trav. (1677), 129 (T.). The clear-voic’d Boys sing thrice every twenty four hours Eulogies to their Prophets Ally and Mahomet.

1694.  Lond. Gaz., No. 3015/4. Stolen or straid … a dark dapple bay Mare … clear Limb’d.

1830.  Tennyson, Isabel, i. Eyes … fed With the clear-pointed flame of chastity. Ibid., Arab. Nts., iii. Clear-stemm’d platans guard The outlet. Ibid. (1859), Lancelot & Elaine, I. 53. That clear-featured face Was lovely.

1870.  Bryant, Iliad, I. I. 14. The clear-toned Pylian orator.

  2.  With the adv., as clear-dangling, -drawn, -judging, -seeing, -shining, -smiling, -spoken, -standing, -swayed, -writ, etc. (See also A. 1 b.)

1593.  Shaks., 3 Hen. VI., II. i. 28. In a pale cleare-shining Skye.

1830.  Sir J. Herschel, Stud. Nat. Phil., III. iii. (1851), 286. Clear-judging tact.

1868.  Ld. Houghton, Select. fr. Wks., 195. That clear-drawn landscape.

1879.  Geo. Eliot, Coll. Breakf. P., 413. A law Clear-writ and proven as the law supreme.

  3.  Special comb.: † clear-cake, a kind of confection, partly transparent; clear-cut a., sharply chiselled, sharply defined; clear-light v., to illumine clearly; † clear-matin, some kind of bread; † clear-walk (see quot.); clear-wing, attrib., popular name of the Hawk-moths with transparent wings (Ægeridæ); so clear-winged. Also CLEAR-EYED, CLEAR-HEADED, CLEAR-STARCH, etc.

1746.  H. Walpole, Lett. H. Mann (1833), II. 153 (D.). I used to call him the *clearcake; fat, fair, sweet, and seen through in a moment.

1769.  Mrs. Raffald, Eng. Housekpr. (1778), 239. To make Currant Clear Cake.

1855.  Tennyson, Maud, I. II. 3. A cold and *clear-cut face.

1876.  Geo. Eliot, Dan. Der., I. 298. The clear-cut, emphatic chant which makes a truth doubly telling in Scotch utterance.

1861.  Temple & Trevor, Tannhäuser, 69. *Clearlighted all with noble thoughts, Her face glowed as an angel’s.

1362.  Langl., P. Pl., A. VII. 292. Ne no Beggere eten Bred þat Benes Inne coome, Bote Coket and *Cler Matin, an of clene whete [1393 C. IX. 328 clerematyn and Coket].

1688.  R. Holme, Armoury, II. 252/1. The *Clear Walk is the place that the Fighting Cock is in, and none other.

1865.  J. G. Wood, Homes without H., viii. 190. The various species … called *Clear-wing Moths.

1859.  W. S. Coleman, Woodlands (1866), 95. A moth of the clear-winged division.