clé

See also: CLE and cle

French

Alternative forms

• clef (less common)

Etymology

From Middle French clef, from Old French clef, from Latin clāvem, accusative singular clāvis, from Proto-Italic *klāwis, of ultimately Proto-Indo-European origin. According to Bescherelle, the spelling clé had replaced clef by 1845.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kle/

• Audio (France, Paris)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -e
• Homophones: clef, clefs, clés

Noun

clé f (plural clés)

1. key (device for unlocking)
2. key (essential attribute)

   La différence est la clé de l'existence.

   Difference is the key to existence.

3. wrench, spanner

Derived terms

Derived terms

• à clé
• à la clé
• clé anglaise
• clé des champs

• clé de voûte
• clé USB
• fermer à clé
• mettre la clé sous la porte

Related terms

• clavier
• enclaver

See also

• serrure f
• verrou m

Further reading

• “clé” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

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Irish

Alternative forms

• clí (Galway)

Etymology

From Old Irish clé, from Proto-Celtic *klēyā, substantivization of the adjective *klēyos (“left(hand)”). Cognate with Scottish Gaelic clì and Welsh cledd.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /clʲeː/
• (Galway) IPA^(key): /clʲiː/ (corresponding to the form clí)

Noun

clé f (genitive singular clé)

1. left (side opposite right)

Declension

Declension of clé

Fourth declension

Bare forms (no plural of this noun) Case Singular Nominative clé Vocative a chlé Genitive clé Dative clé

Forms with the definite article Case Singular Nominative an chlé Genitive na clé Dative leis an gclé don chlé

• Archaic dative singular: clí

Mutation

Irish mutation
Radical	Lenition	Eclipsis
clé	chlé	gclé
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.

References

• Gregory Toner, Maire Ní Mhaonaigh, Sharon Arbuthnot, Dagmar Wodtko, Maire-Luise Theuerkauf, editors (2019), “clé”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language
• “clé” in Foclóir Gaeḋilge agus Béarla, Irish Texts Society, 2nd ed., 1927, by Patrick S. Dinneen.
• "clé" in Foclóir Gaeilge-Béarla, An Gúm, 1977, by Niall Ó Dónaill.

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Karankawa

Alternative forms

• clay
• glé’

Noun

clé

1. water

Synonyms

• comcom

References

• Anthony P. Grant, Karankawa Linguitic Materials, Kansas Working Papers in Linguistics, volume 19, number 2 (1994)