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 of 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; essential attribute)

   La différence est la clé de l'existence.

   Difference is the key to existence.

2. wrench, spanner

Derived terms

• à clé
• à la clé
• clé à cliquet
• clé à douille
• clé à molette
• clé anglaise
• clé de bras
• clé des champs
• clé de voûte
• clé étrangère
• clé primaire
• clé publique
• clé USB
• fermer à clé
• mettre la clé sous la porte
• mettre la clé sous le paillasson

 

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).

---

Irish

Alternative forms

• clí (Galway)

Etymology

From Old Irish clé, from Proto-Celtic *kliyā, substantivization of the adjective *kliyos (“left(hand)”). Cognate with Scottish Gaelic clì, Welsh cledd and Breton kleiz (all "left").

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.

---

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)

---

Old Irish

Etymology

From Proto-Celtic *kliyos.

Adjective

clé

1. left

Inflection

io/iā-stem
Singular	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative	clé	clé	clé
Vocative	clí
Accusative	clé	clí
Genitive	clí	clé	clí
Dative	clíu	clí	clíu
Plural	Masculine	Feminine/neuter
Nominative	clí	clí
Vocative	clí clíu*
Accusative	clí clíu*
Genitive	clé
Dative	cléib
Notes	* when substantivized

Descendants

• Middle Irish: clé
  • Irish: clé
  • Scottish Gaelic: clì
  • Manx: clee

Mutation

Old Irish mutation
Radical	Lenition	Nasalization
clé	chlé	clé pronounced with /ɡ(ʲ)-/
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.

Further reading

• Gregory Toner, Maire Ní Mhaonaigh, Sharon Arbuthnot, Dagmar Wodtko, Maire-Luise Theuerkauf, editors (2019) , “clé”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language