Forms: 4 cler(en, 4–6 clere, 4–7 cleere, (5 cleryn), 6–7 cleer, cleare, 6– clear, (Sc. 7 claire, 8–9 clair). [f. CLEAR a.]
To make clear; become clear; get clear of.
I. In reference to light, and related senses.
† 1. trans. To fill with light; to brighten, illumine. Obs.
1382. Wyclif, Ex. xix. 16. The morwetide was ful cleerid [1388 was cleer].
c. 1385. Chaucer, L. G. W., 773, Tisbe. Phebus gan to cleere Aurora with the stremys of hete.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 4374. Þe rede sonne … Þat all þe land with his leme lewis & cleres.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 7633. The sun in his sercle … All clerit the course, clensit the aire.
1605. Sylvester, Du Bartas, I. iv. (1641), 37/1. Phoebus alwaies with his shine, Cleers half of thine [the moon’s] aspect divine.
b. To render transparent or translucent; to remove matter that clouds or troubles (a medium), or dims the clearness of (a surface); to clarify (a liquid).
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 81. Cleryn fro drestys, desicco.
1545. Raynold, Byrth Mankynde, 146. To cleare and claryfye the skyn.
1593. Shaks., Lucr., 1707. The poison’d fountain clears itself again.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., III. 310. He sweeps the Skies, and clears the cloudy North.
1866. Treas. Bot., 1106/2. These seeds are employed to clear muddy water.
c. To clear the air: orig. to free from clouds, mists, or obscuring elements; now, chiefly, to purify from the sultry conditions that precede a storm; also fig.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Sel. Wks., III. 437. Þenne wyndis of treuþis shulden blowe awey þe heresyes, and cler þe eyrs of holi chirche, þat is now ful troble.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., VIII. xvi. (1495), 324. By spredynge of his bemes the sonne clensith and clerith the ayre.
1885. Manch. Exam., 10 Sept., 5/4. His explicit declaration in reply to Mr. Parnell’s speech … has cleared the air.
2. intr. To become clear or bright. a. Of the day, sky, weather, etc.: originally, To become bright or full of light; to become ‘fine,’ clear up; to become free of clouds, mist, or stormy elements.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, V. 519. O morw, as day bigan to clere.
1393. Gower, Conf., III. 313. The sonne arist, the weder clereth.
1399. Langl., Rich. Redeles, III. 366. Þan gan it to calme and clere all aboute.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 81. Cleryn’, or wex clere or bryghte, as wedur, sereno, clareo.
1562. J. Heywood, Prov. & Epigr. (1867), 133. As wether cléerth, or cloudth, so must men take.
1595. Shaks., John, IV. ii. 108. So foule a skie, cleeres not without a storme.
1633. T. James, Voy., 28. When it cleered; in sight of land.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., I. § 27. 202. The air was clearing, and our hopes brightening.
b. To become free from anything that mars transparency, or purity of color.
c. 1590. Marlowe, Faust., v. 71. So now the blood begins to clear again.
1621. Burton, Anat. Mel., II. ii. I. i. (1651), 233. Many rivers … are muddy … but after they be setled two or three dayes defecate and clear.
1716. Swift, Progr. Beauty. Her spots are gone, her visage clears.
1853. W. Gregory, Inorg. Chem., 183. Allowing the liquid to clear in the … vessel.
c. fig.
1732. Pope, Ep. Cobham, 179. The prospect clears, and Warton stands confess’d.
1793. Southey, Triumph of Woman, 135. For his care-clouded brow shall clear.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., II. 148. Then for a time the prospect seemed to clear.
1862. Goulburn, Pers. Relig., ii. (1873), 14. Are our views of God and of Christ gradually enlarging and clearing.
3. trans. To make (the eyesight) clear. (Partly with the notion of giving clearness of vision, partly of cleansing the eyes from motes, films, etc.)
1590. Shaks., Com. Err., III. ii. 57. That will cleere your sight.
1661. Lovell, Hist. Anim. & Min., 161. The gall with honey cleareth the eyes.
1667. [see CLEAR a. 10].
1877. Mrs. Oliphant, Makers Flor., iii. 91. Heaven had calmed and cleared those burning eyes.
4. To make (a person) clear as to a matter; to convince (obs.); to enlighten or inform (the mind or understanding); to ‘clarify.’
1399. Langl., Rich. Redeles, III. 11. Ȝit clereth þis clause no þinge my wittis.
a. 1631. Donne, Aunc. Hist. Septuagint (1685), 189. For the Integrity of Moses … we are sufficiently cleared and satisfied by the Authority of the Holy Spirit of God.
1638. Hamilton Papers (1880), 28. The desyre of some … to be cleared in sume things.
1826. Disraeli, Viv. Grey, VI. v. 336. With some prospect of finding … my puzzled brain cleared.
5. To make clear or plain to the mind; to free from obscurity or ambiguity; to explain, elucidate.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 81. Cleryn or make clere a thynge þat ys vnknowe, clarifico, manifesto.
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., I. xiii. 72. Forto expowne and cleere her wordis.
1609. Bible (Douay), title-p., Tables: and other helps … for clearing Controversies in Religion.
a. 1626. Bacon, Max. & Uses Com. Law, Pref. 2. In cases wherin the law is cleered by authority.
1652. Needham, trans. Selden’s Mare Cl., 3. The Objections usually brought against such Dominion or Ownership of the Sea, are cleared and answered.
a. 1687. Petty, Pol. Arith., vii. (1691), 101. To clear this point.
1766. Goldsm., Vic. W., xxxi. I waited on her father in person, willing to clear the thing to his satisfaction.
1857. Maurice, Ep. St. John, i. 2. Till I have quite cleared my meaning about them.
1860. Pusey, Min. Proph., 242. God is at no pains to clear, either the likelihood of His history, or the fulfilment of His prophecies.
1870. Jevons, Elem. Logic, xiii. 112. Their value and use is to clear and abbreviate discourse.
† 6. To make manifest, demonstrate, prove. Obs.
1605. Bacon, Adv. Learn., I. ii. § 8. 11. The euidence of time doth cleare this assertion.
1649. Selden, Laws Eng., II. viii. (1739), 50. Nor do any of the Precedents … clear, that the King … did grant [etc.].
1699. Bentley, Phal., Pref. p. lxxxix. Every one of them [these Passages] are true, and may be perfectly clear’d.
1770. Wilkes, Corr. (1805), IV. 31. The title to the house in Berners-street cannot be cleared.
II. Of the voice or vocal organs.
7. To make the voice clear and distinct; to free the vocal organs of huskiness, phlegm, etc.
1701. De Foe, True-born Eng., II. 74. And lets them all drink Wine to clear the Voice.
1842. Thackeray, Miss Tickletoby, Introd., Wks. 1886, XXIV. 10. Having cleared her voice … she began the lecture.
1881. Besant & Rice, Chapl. of Fleet, I. v. (1883), 38. He cleared his throat, and was silent awhile.
III. To make pure, innocent.
8. fig. To make pure from stain, to wash away (a stain); to purify, clarify.
c. 1340. Hampole, Prose Tr., 14. When the resone es cleryde fra all worldly and fleschely behaldynges … and es illuminede with grace for to be-halde Godde and gastely thynges.
1593. Shaks., Lucr., 354. The blackest sin is clear’d with absolution. Ibid., 1053. To clear this spot by death.
1609. Rowlands, Dr. Merrie-man, 24. A Rich man and a poore did both appeare Before a Iudge, an iniurie to cleare.
1688. Wake, Preparation for Death (ed. 3), 45 (J.). Before you pray, clear your Soul from all those sins which you know displeasing to God Almighty.
9. To make clear from the imputation of guilt, to free from accusation, charge or blame; to prove innocent; to acquit. (Often, to clear oneself.)
1481. Caxton, Reynard, iii. (Arb.), 6. He hath ynowh to doo to clere hym self.
1576. Fleming, Panoplie Ep., B ij. When the person so charged doth purge and cleare himselfé.
1602. Warner, Alb. Eng., X. lvi. (1612), 246. And, as found, her to condemne or cleare.
a. 1605. Montgomerie, Flyting, 46. Knave, acknowledge thine offence, Or I grow crabbed, and sa claire thee.
1659. Capt. Baynes, in Burton’s Diary (1828), IV. 442. I move to clear them, and make them innocent persons.
1713. Addison, Cato, III. v. 58. How! would’st thou clear rebellion!
1802. Mar. Edgeworth, Moral T. (1816), I. xix. 169. He must commit Mr. F. to gaol, unless he can clear himself.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., IV. 469. A resolution clearing the Victualling Office was proposed by Montague.
b. Const. of, from. Cf. 11.
1483. Vulgaria abs Terentio, 7 b. Late me clere my selfe of this faute.
1590. Nashe, Pasquil’s Apol., I. D ij. Christes aunswere … cleeres him of it.
1605. Shaks., Macb., II. ii. 67. A little Water cleares vs of this deed.
1636. Featly, Clavis Myst., lviii. 786. From Idolatry in the second acception they can never cleere themselves.
1692. Locke, Toleration, III. i. Wks. 1727, II. 295. I shall endeavour to clear myself of that Imputation.
1769. Junius, Lett., xxxi. 142. Why do not they immediately clear themselves from it?
1885. G. Monod, in Contemp. Rev., July, 144. M. Paulin Paris … clears them both from the reproach.
IV. To make clear from encumbrance or obstruction.
10. To free from obstructions, obstacles, impediments, things or persons that obstruct or cumber a space; to make open or void for passage or operations. To clear the coast, clear a way, clear the decks, are also used fig.
1530. Palsgr., 486/2. The kynge intendeth to go to Calays, but we muste first clere the costes.
1602. Warner, Alb. Eng., XII. lxxiv. (1612), 307. No sooner cleered was the Coast, but that the bidden Guest Steales to her Chamber doore.
1631. E. Pelham, God’s Power & Prov., in Churchill, Collect. (1704), IV. 820. The Wind coming Easterly, carried all the Ice into the Sea, and cleared the Sound a great way.
c. 1647. Knts. Isle Wight, in Sc. Pasquils (1868), 154. Have you cleared the way to Joppa?
1836. Marryat, Japhet, lxxi. We sat down to dinner, and when we had finished, and the table had been cleared, we drew to the fire.
1839. Thirlwall, Greece, II. xiii. 170. To clear them [the walls of the city] by showers of missiles.
1866. Sala, Barbary, 5. Police to clear the way.
1870. Bryant, Iliad, I. II. 42. They cleared the decks amid the clamorous cries Of multitudes.
1882. J. H. Blunt. Ref. Ch. Eng., II. 20. For this great palace he cleared an area.
1885. Manch. Exam., 16 Sept., 5/5. The streets had to be cleared.
b. In various specific uses, as
(a.) To prepare (a ship) for action by removing everything that is in the way, from the decks, etc.
1745. P. Thomas, Jrnl. Anson’s Voy., 16. We stove most of our empty Casks, in order to clear our Ships as much as possible.
1790. Beatson, Nav. & Mil. Mem., 277. He cleared ship, and made ready for action.
1889. Sat. Rev., 16 March, 304/1. Clearing an English war-ship for action.
(b.) To free (land, etc.) from trees, underwood, etc., in preparation for cultivation. Also fig.
1697. Dampier, Voy. (1698), I. vii. 188. The S. W. end of the Island hath never been cleared.
1705. J. Logan, in Pa. Hist. Soc. Mem., X. 9. There were 40 acres cleared at Pennsbury at thy going off.
1746–7. Hervey, Medit. (1758), I. 146. Let holy Discipline clear the Soil.
1837. Ht. Martineau, Soc. Amer., II. 93. The Englishman clears half the quantity of land,—clears it very thoroughly.
1853. Lytton, My Novel, III. xxv. Seeing that he had so far cleared ground, the Parson went on to intimate [etc.].
(c.) To free (a felled tree) from branches, to convert into clear timber.
1883. Stevenson, Treasure Isl., IV. xviii. (Tauchn.), 145. A longish fir-tree lying felled and cleared [1st ed. trimmed] in the enclosure.
11. Hence, gen., To free or rid (a place or thing of any things by which it is occupied, accompanied, or encumbered, so as to leave the former clear or void). Now a leading sense which tends to color all the others.
1535. Joye, Apol. Tindale (Arb.), 40. Let Tin[dale] clere himselfe of this errour.
1585. Lloyd, Treas. Health, T j. A grene frogge … if ye pacient be anoyntid ther wyth before his fit, it shal clere him of hys Agewe.
1791. Gentl. Mag., LXI. II. 1171. Having cleared the plain of its inhabitants, and the air of its winged people.
1796. Morse, Amer. Geog., I. 216. The young cuckow … sets about clearing the nest of the young sparrows.
1835. Bonnycastle’s Algebra, 83. Any equation may be cleared of fractions, by multiplying each of its terms successively by the denominators.
1851. Mayhew, Lond. Labour, II. 350 (Hoppe). The strathes and glens of Sutherland have been cleared of their inhabitants, and the whole country has been converted into an immense sheep walk.
1860. Mrs. Carlyle, Lett., III. 63. A wild desire to clear the house of these new-comers.
1881. J. Russell, Haigs, iii. 40. The higher valley-levels, when cleared of wood, were devoted to purposes of agriculture.
1883. Stevenson, Treasure Isl., IV. xix. 153. The inside of the stockade had been cleared of timber to build the house.
† b. with from: to free from. Obs.
1655. Fuller, Ch. Hist., II. ii. § 80. [Oswiu] cleared the Country from his [Penda’s] Cruelty.
1749. Fielding, Tom Jones, V. vii. They are … cleared from this apprehension [of death].
1875. Ure, Dict. Arts, III. 871. By a machine generally called a Devil or Opener … the cotton is cleared from its heaviest dirt and opened.
12. To remove, so as to leave the place or way clear. Cf. CLEAR AWAY, OFF, OUT.
1641. Wilkins, Math. Magick, II. x. (1648), 237 (J.). A man … digging … did meet with something like a dore…; from which having cleared the earth, he forced open the door.
1823. W. Scoresby, Jrnl. Whale-Fishery, 69. Having cleared the wreck, and close-reefed the topsails.
1869. Freeman, Norm. Conq., III. xii. 183. A few events in the internal history of the Duchy may be usefully cleared out of the way.
1873. Tristram, Moab, v. 80. We toiled away with our men at clearing the great stones.
b. With mixture of sense 1 b, c (cf. 24, 25).
1832. Southey, Hist. Penins. War, III. 693. A gentle sea-breeze began to clear the mist, and the sun shone forth.
13. intr. To depart, so as to leave the place clear. (In quot. 1832 with mixture of sense 2. Cf. 24, 25.)
1832. Southey, Hist. Penins. War, III. 568. When the mist cleared, their whole force was seen. Ibid., 202. As soon as the fog cleared.
1844. Dickens, Mart. Chuz., xxii. 276. ‘Will you clear, gentlemen? Will you clear? Will you be so good as clear, gentlemen, and make a little room for more?’
Regardless of the Captain’s cries, they didn’t clear at all, but stood there, bolt upright and staring.
V. To make clear of contents or burden.
14. To deprive of its contents, to leave empty, exhaust. To clear a dish, to dispose of its contents; to clear an examination paper (mod. colloq.), to ‘dispose of’ all the questions; to clear a ship, to discharge it of its cargo.
1699. Dampier, Voy., II. III. Disc. on Winds, etc. vii. 85–6. And having every Man his Callabash full…; but I am confident not a Man among us all did clear his Dish.
1725. De Foe, Voy. round World (1840), 343. They found that they had cleared the place, which was not of large extent.
1794. Nelson, 3 July, in Nicolas, Disp. (1845), I. 422. To send me an exact Return of what Ships are cleared, and what the other Ships have still on board.
b. intr. (for refl.) To become empty.
1886. Daily News, 20 Sept., 2/5. Supplies continue good, and the market clears with a steady demand.
c. To purge the bowels.
1719. D’Urfey, Pills, V. 313. I clear the Lass with a Wainscot Face.
d. To unburden or purge the conscience.
1883. S. R. Gardiner, Hist. Eng., I. vi. 261. They all confessed to the priest…. After they had thus cleared their consciences, they rode off to Stephen Littleton’s house.
VI. To make or get clear from contact.
15. trans. To free from contact or entanglement; to free and separate; to get (a thing or oneself) clear of or from.
1599. Hakluyt, Voy., II. II. 173 (R.). He was like to be encompassed by the squadrons, & with great difficultie cleared himselfe.
1692. Capt. Smith’s Seaman’s Gram., I. xvi. 78. When two Cables that come through two several Hawses are twisted, the untwisting them is called clearing the Hawse.
1761. Chron., in Ann. Reg., 153/1. Captain Potts … lately gallantly cleared himself from six French privateers.
1823. W. Scoresby, Jrnl. Whale-Fishery, 289. The hauling of this fish up by the lines, and the clearing it afterwards of a floe under which it was carried by the current.
1853. Kane, Grinnell Exp., xii. (1854), 93. It is often necessary, also, to clear or straighten the hawser after its attachment.
† b. To get (any one) clear of a place. Obs.
1611. Shaks., Wint. T., I. ii. 439. I will … by twoes, and threes, at seuerall Posternes, Cleare them o’ th’ Citie.
1622–62. Heylyn, Cosmogr., III. (1673), 57/2. Having cleared ourselves of so much of this Mountain, as lay before us on our way, we pass over to Palestine.
16. To pass (an obstruction, etc.) without entanglement or collision; to pass clear of; to get clear through or away from.
1634. Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 33. Ere she could cleere the passage, Assaph Chawn met with Sultan Seriare.
1656. J. Hammond, Leah & R. (1844), 11. Expect the Ship somewhat troubled and in a hurliburly, untill ye cleer the lands end.
1745. P. Thomas, Jrnl. Anson’s Voy., 316. Had the Wind continued…, we should have found it difficult to have cleared that Coast.
1804. Monson, in J. Owen, Wellesley’s Disp., 528. We had just cleared the ravines when the enemy’s cavalry made a desperate charge.
1853. Kane, Grinnell Exp., xxii. (1854), 178. A moment after, the ice drove by, just clearing our stern.
17. To leap clear over; to pass over (a distance).
1791. ‘G. Gambado,’ Acad. Horsem., vi. (1809), 91. He clears every thing with his fore legs in a capital style.
1810. Scott, Lady of L., I. ii. With one brave bound the copse he cleared. Ibid. (1824), St. Ronan’s, xii. With a swifter pace … Captain MacTurk cleared the ground betwixt the Spring and its gay vicinity.
1835. A. Fonblanque, Eng. under 7 Administr. (1837), III. 247. The passage … in which difficulties are cleared as fences are cleared in hunting—by a flying leap.
b. Of guns, etc.: To have free range over.
1691. T. H[ale], Acc. New Invent., 126. The Guns in the Fore-castle and steerage clear the Deck, as those of the Round-house do the Quarter deck.
VII. To free from pecuniary liabilities.
18. To settle or discharge a debt, bill, etc.
1596. Shaks., Merch. V., III. ii. 321. All debts are cleerd betweene you and I, if I might see you at my death.
1613. Rowlands, Paire Spy-Knaues, B iij b. Next to my Taylor, and will him be heere About eleuen, and his Bill Ile cleere.
1663. Dryden, Rival Ladies, II. i. If that will clear my Debt, enjoy thy Wish.
1751. Berkeley, Lett., Wks. 1871, IV. 331. I send the above bill to clear what you have expended on my account.
1779. J. Moore, View Soc. Fr. (1789), I. i. 3. Money sufficient to clear all his debts.
† b. intr. To adjust accounts, claims, or differences with; to settle with. Obs.
1597. Daniel, Civ. Wares, VIII. lxii. How He might clear with her, and stop report.
1615. Sir R. Boyle, Diary (1886), I. 65. I have cleered with my plaisterers for fretting my gallery.
1753. Smollett, Ct. Fathom (1784), 107/1. It was the custom … for the client to clear with his attorney before trial.
1796. Stedman, Surinam (1813), II. xxix. 407. On the 18th the troops were finally cleared with, and paid their remaining arrears (cf. clearings).
19. trans. To set free from debt, or pecuniary embarrassment.
1704. W. Penn, in Pa. Hist. Soc. Mem., IX. 343. To clear our encumbered estate.
1853. Lytton, My Novel, VIII. iv. I did not say that that sum would clear me.
1885. Law Times, LXXIX. 328/1. Moneys granted … for the purpose of clearing the great orator’s estate, which was insolvent.
b. absol. (for refl.)
1612. Bacon, Ess. Expense (Arb.), 55. He that cleeres at once will relapse. But hee that cleereth by degrees, induceth an habite of frugality, and gaineth aswell vpon his minde as vpon his estate.
20. To free (a ship or cargo) by satisfying the customs, harbor dues, etc.
1703. Lond. Gaz., No. 3924/4. All her Cargo being unladen and cleared.
1867. Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., To clear goods, to pay the custom-house dues and duties.
b. absol. or intr. in same sense; hence, to leave a port under such conditions.
1807. Sir R. Wilson, Jrnl., 15 July, in Life (1862), II. viii. 319. The English ships are all clearing as fast as possible from Memel under an apprehension that Buonaparte may send an order to detain them.
1885. Law Reports, Weekly Notes, 146/1. The ship loaded the coals … and, having cleared at the custom-house, started on her voyage to Bombay.
1889. Daily News, 13 April, 2/5. The steamer … cleared at Christiania … bound for New York.
21. trans. To gain or make in clear profit.
1705. Addison, Italy, 529 (J.). He clears but Two Hundred Thousand Crowns a Year.
1848. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., I. 303. A Captain might thus clear several thousands of pounds by a short voyage.
22. To defray at once (all the charges of any business); to pass one free through (toll-gates, etc.).
1829. Southey, Pilgr. Compostella, Introd. Tickets there were given, To clear all toll gates on the way.
23. To pass (a bill, cheque, through-ticket) through the Clearing-House.
1868. Rogers, Pol. Econ., xi. (1876), 148. Many millions in value of such bills [of exchange] are weekly cleared through the London bankers.
VIII. With adverbs:
24. Clear away.
a. trans. To remove, leave the place, so as to clear, absol. To remove the remains of a meal.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 112, ¶ 1. Sunday clears away the Rust of the whole Week.
1837. Marryat, Dog-fiend, II. xiv. (L.). Smallbones … asked his master, as he cleared away, whether he should keep the red-herring for the next day.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., I. § 27. 211. I had a man to clear away the snow.
1873. Morley, Rousseau, I. 5. Clearing away the overgrowth of errors.
† b. To pay out (a line) free from entanglement.
1697. Dampier, Voy. (1698), I. i. 17. One George Gayny took the end of a Line, and made it fast about his Neck, and left the other end ashore, and one man stood by the Line, to clear it away to him.
c. intr. Of clouds, fog, etc.: To pass away and leave clearness behind.
1805. A. Duncan, Mariner’s Chron., III. 202. About five it cleared away, and we saw L’Hercule to leeward.
1823. W. Scoresby, Jrnl. Whale-Fishery, 159. We had a fog which never once cleared away for fifteen days.
1827. Keble, Chr. Y. 21 Trin. i. 1. The morning mist is cleared away, Yet still the face of heaven is gray.
25. Clear off.
a. trans. To remove (an encumbrance) so as to leave a thing clear; to get rid of (a debt or claim) by settling it.
1766. C. Leadbetter, Royal Gauger, II. iv. (ed. 6), 250. [The common Brewer, Inn-keeper, etc.] are obliged to pay and clear off the Duty within the Week or Month after such entries are made.
1842. Mary Milner, Life I. Milner, xiii. 242. To ‘clear off,’ as he used to say, some of his unanswered letters.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., III. 215. A mortgage for a thousand pounds was cleared off by a bag of counters made out of old kettles.
1883. Manch. Exam., 12 Dec., 5/1. To clear off the stocks which depress the market.
b. intr. Of clouds, fog, etc.: To go off so as to leave clearness. Of intruders (colloq.): To be off and leave the place clear.
1840. R. H. Dana, Bef. Mast, xi. 25. On the sixth it cleared off, and the sun came out bright.
1854. H. Rogers, Ess. (1860), II. 7. The clouds … will clear-off before the summit is reached.
1859. Jephson, Brittany, vii. 92. The rain soon cleared off.
1888. J. Rickaby, Moral Philos., 205. To warn the visitor to clear off.
26. Clear out.
a. trans. To take or throw out so as to leave the place clear.
1655. in Picton, L’pool Munic. Rec. (1883), I. 189. The gates … shalbe pulled up, taken away and cleered out.
1858. Hawthorne, Fr. & It. Jrnls., II. 82. Finally they were all cleared out as rubbish.
b. To empty and leave clear. slang. To rid of cash, to ‘clean out.’
1850. Thackeray, Pendennis, xliii. (Hoppe). The luck turned from that minute…. Came away cleared out, leaving that infernal cheque behind me.
1869. Phillips, Vesuvius, iii. 49. In July, 1660, a considerable ejection of ashes occurred, which cleared out the crater.
1884. Illust. Lond. News, Christm. No. 6/2. He cleared you out that night, old man.
c. To pass through the process of clearing on leaving port. (With various constructions.)
1758. J. Blake, Plan Mar. Syst., 57. When an outward-bound merchant ship is manned and cleared out.
1818. B. O’Reilly, Greenland, 152. The masters of whale ships are forbidden by a solemn oath … before clearing out the voyage, to seek nothing but blubber.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., IV. 485. Every merchant ship that cleared out from the Thames or the Severn.
d. intr. colloq. To depart out of a place, be off, take oneself off.
1825. J. Neal, Bro. Jonathan, II. 151. Like many a hero before him, he ‘cleared out.’
1861. Thoreau, Lett. (1865), 196. The doctor … tells me that I must ‘clear out’ to the West Indies or elsewhere.
1885. Truth, 28 May, 847. I would have the Canal under the control of an International Commission … and then I would clear out of the country.
27. Clear up.
a. trans. To make clear (what has become overcast); to brighten up.
1588. Shaks., Tit. A., I. i. 263. Cleere vp Faire Queene that cloudy countenance.
1671. Milton, P. R., IV. 437. The birds … Clear’d up their choicest notes in bush and spray.
1685. Dryden, trans. Hor. Ode, III. xxix. iv. (J.). A savoury Dish, a homely Treat, Where all is plain, where all is neat,… Clear up the cloudy foreheads of the Great.
b. intr. To become clear; esp. of the weather after rain or storm.
1627. Capt. Smith, Seaman’s Gram., ix. 41. It cleares vp, set your fore-saile.
1653. Walton, Angler, 195. The weather clears up a little.
1727. Swift, Gulliver, III. iv. 203. His Excellency observed my countenance to clear up.
1843. Thackeray, Irish Sk. Bk., ix. (1879), 100. The day did not clear up sufficiently to allow me to make any long excursion.
c. trans. To put into order by clearing away obstructions, rubbish, etc.; to ‘tidy up.’
1765. A. Dickson, Treat. Agric., 252. The plough … follows and clears up the furrows.
1840. R. H. Dana, Bef. Mast, xxviii. 95. Not a letter was read until we had cleared up decks for the night.
1885. Manch. Exam., 15 June, 5/5. To clear up the mess of difficulties.
d. intr. To come into order from confusion.
1749. Fielding, Tom Jones, VII. xiii. (1840), 98/1. The house began to clear up from the hurry which this accident had occasioned.
e. trans. To make clear and lucid (to the mind); to elucidate.
1680. Boyle, Scept. Chem., IV. 207 (J.). By Mystical Termes, and Ambiguous Phrases [he] darkens what he should clear up.
1734. Berkeley, Analyst, § 21. In order therefore to clear up this point.
1832. Ht. Martineau, Life in Wilds, iv. 54. You have cleared up the matter completely.
1860. W. Collins, Wom. White, I. vi. 25. We must really clear up this mystery, in some way.
f. intr. To become perspicuous or lucid.
1875. E. White, Life in Christ (1878), Pref. 12. My early ideas have somewhat cleared up in certain directions in the course of subsequent reflection.
g. trans. To settle or adjust (debts, accounts).
1726. Berkeley, Lett., 20 Jan. Wks. 1871, IV. 120. It is an infinite shame that the debts are not cleared up and paid.
