clethen

Middle English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Northumbrian Old English clǣðdon, variant of *clǣþian, from clǣþ; equivalent to clethe +‎ -en (infinitival suffix).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈklɛːðən/

Verb

clethen

  1. (ambitransitive) To clothe; to put clothing on.
  2. (reflexive) To wear; to put clothing on oneself.
  3. (transitive) To give clothes or garments to.
  4. (transitive) To enclose; to surround as to hide.
  5. (rare, reflexive) To gain a trait; to immerse in an abstract quantity.
  6. (rare, ambitransitive) To decorate or ornament.

Usage notes

This verb is primarily found in Northern Middle English.

Conjugation

Conjugation of clethen (weak in -de)
infinitive (to) clethen, clethe
present tense past tense
1st-person singular clethe cledde
2nd-person singular clethest cleddest
3rd-person singular cletheth cledde
subjunctive singular clethe
imperative singular —
plural1 clethen, clethe cledden, cledde
imperative plural cletheth, clethe —
participles clethynge, clethende cled, ycled

1 Sometimes used as a formal 2nd-person singular.

Descendants

  • English: clead (dialectal)
  • Scots: cleed, cleid, cleethe

References

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