Clear, vb., 1) trans. a) to make bright, to cleanse: “the poisoned fountain --s itself again,” Lucr. 1707. “c. thy crystals,” H5 II, 3, 56. “that will c. your sight,” Err. III, 2, 57. “c. up that cloudy countenance,” Tit. I, 263. “the sun not yet thy sighs from heaven --s,” Rom. II, 3, 73 (== clears heaven from thy sighs).
b) to free from obscurity or ambiguity: “my letters shall c. that doubt,” Wint. IV, 4, 633. “till we can c. these ambiguities,” Rom. V, 3, 217. “all other doubts, by time let them be --ed,” Cymb. IV, 3, 45.
c) to bring to an issue, to settle an affair: “this wrestler shall c. all,” As I, 1, 178. “the violent carriage of it will c. or end the business,” Wint. III, 1, 18.
d) to free from any thing obnoxious: “see the coast --ed,” H6A I, 3, 89. “when he was poor, imprisoned, I --ed him with five talents,” Tim. II, 2, 235.
e) to pay, to cancel: “all debts are --ed between you and I,” Merch. III, 2, 321. “the imposition --ed hereditary ours,” Wint. I, 2, 74.*
f) to rid; followed by of: “and will by twos and threes at several posterns c. them o' the city,” Wint. I, 2, 439. “till the ship be --ed of the dead,” Per. III, 1, 49.
g) to justify, to absolve: “the blackest sin is --ed with absolution,” Lucr. 354. “to c. this spot by death,” Lucr. 354 “the body's stain her mind untainted --s,” Lucr. 354 “he in time may come to c. himself,” Meas. V, 150. “these lords can c. me in it,” Wint. II, 3, 143. “and thus far c. him,” H8 II, 4, 167. “I shall c. myself,” V, 3, 65. Followed by from: “to c. her from that suspicion,” Lucr. 1320. why shall not I (clear myself) from this compelled “stain?” Lucr. 1320 “thy father's charge shall c. thee from that stain,” H6A IV, 5, 42. “you will c. yourself from all suspect,” H6B III, 1, 140. “--s her from all blame,” Lr. II, 4, 147. -- Followed by of: “let us be --ed of being tyrannous,” Wint. III, 2, 5. “a little water --s us of this deed,” Mcb. II, 2, 67.
2) intr. to become bright: “till heaven --s,” Sonn. 148, 12. “so foul a sky --s not without a storm,” John IV, 2, 108.
Shakespeare Lexicon. Alexander Schmidt. Berlin. Georg Reimer. 1902.
This text was converted to electronic form by professional data entry and has been proofread to a high level of accuracy.
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