clumse

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English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From Middle English clumsen, clomsen, cloumsen, from Old Norse *klumsa (compare Old Norse klumsa (lock-jawed)), whence also dialectal Norwegian klumsa (to make speechless or benumbed), dialectal Swedish klumsen (numb with cold). Compare related Low German verklamen, Dutch kleumen, verkleumen, German verklomen.

Pronunciation

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Verb

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clumse (third-person singular simple present clumses, present participle clumsing, simple past and past participle clumsed)

  1. (transitive) To numb; benumb; stiffen or paralyse with cold or fear
  2. (intransitive) To be numb or benumbed; be stiffened or paralysed with cold or fear
  3. (dialectal, Scotland) To die of thirst

Adjective

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clumse (comparative more clumse, superlative most clumse)

  1. benumbed, as with cold
  2. idle; lazy; loutish

Noun

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clumse (plural clumses)

  1. A stupid fellow; numbskull

Derived terms

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Anagrams

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