Clare-obscure. Same as Chiaroscuro.
Claret, klar′et, n. originally applied to wines of a light-red colour, but now used in England for the dark-red wines of Bordeaux: (slang) blood.—v.i. to drink claret.—ns. Clar′et-cup, a drink made up of iced claret, brandy, sugar, &c.; Clar′et-jug, a fancy jug for holding claret. [Fr. clairet—clair—L. clarus, clear.]
Clarify, klar′i-fī, v.t. to make clear or pure.—v.i. to become clear:—pr.p. clar′ifying; pa.p. clar′ified.—ns. Clarificā′tion; Clar′ifier, that which clarifies or purifies. [L. clarus, clear, and facĕre, to make.]
Clarion, klar′i-on, n. a kind of trumpet whose note is clear and shrill: the sound of a trumpet, or a sound resembling that of a trumpet.—ns. Clar′inet, Clar′ionet, a wind-instrument, usually of wood, in which the sound is produced by a single thin reed.—The Bass Clarinet is pitched an octave lower than the ordinary clarinet. [Fr. clairon—clair—L. clarus, clear.]
Clarity, klar′i-ti, n. clearness. [M. E. clarté—L. claritas.]
Clarty, klar′ti, adj. (Scot.) sticky and dirty. [Der. unknown.]
Clary, klār′i, n. a biennial with clammy stem, large, heart-shaped, rough, doubly crenate leaves, and whorls of pale-blue flowers in loose terminal spikes, with large coloured bracts. [Low L. sclarea. Origin unknown.]
Clash, klash, n. a loud noise, such as is caused by the striking together of weapons: opposition: contradiction: (Scot.) chatter, country talk.—v.i. to dash noisily together: to meet in opposition: to act in a contrary direction: to disagree: (Scot.) to gossip.—v.t. to strike noisily against.—n. Clash′ing, a striking against: opposition. [Formed from the sound, like Ger. and Sw. klatsch.]
Clasp, klasp, n. a hook for fastening: an embrace.—v.t. to fasten with a clasp: to enclose and hold in the hand or arms: to embrace.—ns. Clasp′er, that which clasps: the tendril of a plant; Clasp′ing; Clasp′-knife, a knife the blade of which folds into the handle. [M. E. clapse, from the root of A.S. clyppan, to embrace. See Clip.]
Class, klas, n. a rank or order of persons or things: high rank or social standing: a number of students or scholars who are taught together: a scientific division or arrangement: the position in order of merit of students after examination.—v.t. to form into a class or classes: to arrange methodically.—v.i. to take rank.—adjs. Class′able, Class′ible, capable of being classed.—ns. Class′-fell′ow, Class′-mate, a pupil in the same class at school or college; Class′ic, any great writer or work: a student of the ancient classics: a standard work: (pl.) Greek, Roman, and modern writers of the first rank, or their works.—adjs. Class′ic, -al, of the highest class or rank, esp. in literature: originally and chiefly used of the best Greek and Roman writers: (as opposed to Romantic) like in style to the authors of Greece and Rome: chaste, refined, in keeping with classical art: famous for literary or historical reasons.—ns. Classical′ity, Class′icalness, the quality of being classical.—adv. Class′ically.—ns. Class′icism, a classical idiom; Class′icist, one versed in the classics, or devoted to their being retained in education; Class′-lead′er, the leader of a class in a Methodist church; Class′man, one who has gained honours of a certain class at the Oxford examinations—opp. to Passman.—Classic races, the five chief annual horse-races—the Two Thousand, One Thousand, Derby, Oaks, and St Leger.—Take a class, to take honours in an examination, as opposed to the mere 'pass.' [Fr. classe—L. classis, cog. with L. calāre, Gr. kalein.]