Chapter Clench to Cliquot of C by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Clench to Cliquot

Clench and Clinch. To clench is to grasp firmly, as, “He clenched my arm firmly,” “He clenched his nerves bravely to endure the pain.” (Anglo-Saxon, be-clencan, to hold fast.)
   To clinch is to make fast, to turn the point of a nail in order to make it fast. Hence, to clinch an argument. (Dutch, klinken, to rivet. Whence “clinker-built,” said of a ship whose planks overlap each other, and are riveted together.)
   I gave him a clencher (should be “clincher”). I nailed him fast.

Cleombrotos (4 syl.). A philosopher who so admired Plato's Phaedon that he jumped into the sea in order to exchange this life for a better. He was called Ambraciota (of Ambracia), from the place of his birth in Epirus.

“He who to enjoy
Plato's elysium, leaped into the sea,
Cleombrotus.”
Milton: Paradise Lost, iii. 471-3.

Cleon The personification of glory in Spenser's Faërie Queene.

Cleopatra was introduced to Julius Caesar by Apollodorus in a bale of rich Syrian rugs. When the bale was unbound, there was discovered the fairest and wittiest girl of all the earth, and Caesar became her captive slave.

Cleopatra and her Pearl It is said that Cleopatra made a banquet for Antony, the costliness of which excited his astonishment; and, when Antony expressed his surprise, Cleopatra took a pearl ear-drop, which she dissolved in a strong acid, and drank to the health of the Roman triumvir, saying, “My draught to Antony shall far exceed it.” There are two difficulties in this anecdote- the first is, that vinegar would not dissolve a pearl; and the next is, that any stronger acid would be wholly unfit to drink. Probably the solution is this: the pearl was sold to some merchant, whose name was synonymous with a strong acid, and the money given to Antony as a present by the fond queen. The pearl melted, and Cleopatra drank to the health of Antony as she handed him the money. (See “Gresham” in Reader's Handbook.)

Clergy The men of God's lot or inheritance. In St. Peter's first epistle (ch. v. 3) the Church is called “God's heritage” or lot. In the Old Testament the tribe of Levi is called the “lot or heritage of the Lord.” (Greek, Latin, clerus and clericus, whence Norman clerex and clerkus; French, clergé.)
   Benefit of clergy. (See Benefit)

Clergymen The dislike of sailors to clergymen on board ship arises from an association with the history of Jonah. Sailors call them a kittle cargo, or kittlish cargo, meaning dangerous. Probably the disastrous voyage of St. Paul confirmed the prejudice.

Clerical Titles
   (1) CLERK. As in ancient times the clergyman was about the only person who could write and read, the word clerical, as used in “clerical error,” came to signify an orthographical error. As the respondent in church was able to read, he received the name of clerk, and the assistants in writing, etc., are so termed in business. (Latin, clericus, a clergyman.)
   (2) CURATE. One who has the cure of souls. As the cure of the parish used to be virtually entrusted to the clerical stipendiary, the word curate was appropriated to this assistant.
   (3) RECTOR. One who has the parsonage and great tithes. The man who rules or guides the parish. (Latin, “a ruler.”)
   (4) VICAR. One who does the “duty” of a parish for the person who receives the tithes. (Latin, vicarius, a deputy.)
   (5) INCUMBENT and PERPETUAL CURATE are now termed Vicars. (See Parsons)
    The French curé equals our vicar, and their vicaire our curate.

Clerical Vestments
   (1) White. Emblem of purity, worn on all feasts, saints' days, and sacramental occasions.
   (2) Red. The colour of blood and of fire, worn on the days of martyrs, and on Whit-Sunday, when the Holy Ghost came down like tongues of fire.
   (3) Green. Worn only on days which are neither feasts nor fasts.
   (4) Purple. The colour of mourning, worn on Advent Sundays, in Lent, and on Ember days.
   (5) Black. Worn on Good Friday, and when masses are said for the dead.

Clerimond Niece of the Green Knight (q.v.), bride of Valentine the brave, and sister of Ferragus the giant. (Valentine and Orson.)