clench

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jump to navigation Jump to search

English

[edit]
A clenched fist.

Etymology

[edit]

From Middle English clenchen, from Old English clenċan (to clinch; hold fast), a variant of Old English clenġan (to adhere; remain), from Proto-Germanic *klangijaną, causative of *klinganą (to stick; adhere). Related to cling.

Pronunciation

[edit]

Verb

[edit]

clench (third-person singular simple present clenches, present participle clenching, simple past and past participle clenched) (transitive, intransitive)

  1. To grip or hold fast.
    • 1697, Virgil, “(please specify the book number)”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. [], London: [] Jacob Tonson, [], →OCLC:
      Clinch the pointed spear.
  2. To close tightly.
    He clenched his fist in anger.

Usage notes

[edit]
  • In the vast majority of instances, this verb describes the action of a human or animal body part, usually the hand, fingers, fist, claws, jaw, teeth, buttocks, or anus. While such body parts may be said to clench another object, such as a knife clenched in the teeth, it is rare to suggest that an inanimate object such as a vise is itself engaged in clenching. In these cases, a synonym such as clamp, clasp, squeeze, or constrict would be more idiomatic.

Synonyms

[edit]

Antonyms

[edit]

Derived terms

[edit]

Translations

[edit]

Noun

[edit]

clench (plural clenches)

  1. A tight grip.
  2. (engineering) A seal that is applied to formed thin-wall bushings.
  3. A local chapter of the Church of the SubGenius parody religion.
    • 1989, Ted Schultz, The Fringes of Reason, page 210:
      And perhaps most innovative of all, Drummond and Stang pushed for a policy of clench autonomy []
    • 2003, Peter Knight, Conspiracy Theories in American History: An Encyclopedia, page 170:
      Every SubGenius clench is required to have a member who does not believe []
    • 2012, George D. Chryssides, Historical Dictionary of New Religious Movements, page 95:
      Originality is encouraged, and some clenches have devised their own distinctive organizational names []
  4. (archaic) A pun

Translations

[edit]

References

[edit]