clæne

Old English

Alternative forms

• clēne, clāne

Etymology

From Proto-West Germanic *klainī. Cognate with Old Saxon klēni, Old High German kleini.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈklæː.ne/

Adjective

clǣne

1. clean

   Gā and dō on clǣne hemeþe.

   Go and put on a clean shirt.

2. pure

   clǣne gold

   pure gold

   • late 10th century, Ælfric, Lives of Saints

     Þā brōhte sē cniht tō þām clǣnan mǣdene dēorwurþa ġimmas and woruldlīċe glenċġa and behēt hire welan ġif hēo wolde hine.

     Then the boy brought the pure maiden valuable gems and worldly decorations and promised her riches if she would [be with] him.

3. clear
   • early 12th century, the Peterborough Chronicle

     Þā niht wæs sēo lyft swīðe clǣnu and þā steorran ofer ealne þone heofon swīðe beorhte sċīnende.

     That night, the air was very clear, and all the stars in the sky were shining very brightly.

Declension

Declension of clǣne — Strong

Singular	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative	clǣne	clǣnu, clǣno	clǣne
Accusative	clǣnne	clǣne	clǣne
Genitive	clǣnes	clǣnre	clǣnes
Dative	clǣnum	clǣnre	clǣnum
Instrumental	clǣne	clǣnre	clǣne
Plural	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative	clǣne	clǣna, clǣne	clǣnu, clǣno
Accusative	clǣne	clǣna, clǣne	clǣnu, clǣno
Genitive	clǣnra	clǣnra	clǣnra
Dative	clǣnum	clǣnum	clǣnum
Instrumental	clǣnum	clǣnum	clǣnum

Declension of clǣne — Weak

Singular	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative	clǣna	clǣne	clǣne
Accusative	clǣnan	clǣnan	clǣne
Genitive	clǣnan	clǣnan	clǣnan
Dative	clǣnan	clǣnan	clǣnan
Instrumental	clǣnan	clǣnan	clǣnan
Plural	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative	clǣnan	clǣnan	clǣnan
Accusative	clǣnan	clǣnan	clǣnan
Genitive	clǣnra, clǣnena	clǣnra, clǣnena	clǣnra, clǣnena
Dative	clǣnum	clǣnum	clǣnum
Instrumental	clǣnum	clǣnum	clǣnum

Derived terms

• clǣnlīċ
• clǣnlīċe

Descendants

• Middle English: clene
  • English: clean
  • Scots: clene, clein