clause
- Grammar. a syntactic construction containing a subject and predicate and forming part of a sentence or constituting a whole simple sentence.
- a distinct article or provision in a contract, treaty, will, or other formal or legal written document.
Origin of clause
Related Words
requirementsectionpassagearticlestipulationprovisionspecificationparagraphchapterlimitationprovisocodicilpointheadingjokeritempartkickercatchultimatumExamples from the Web for clauses
Contemporary Examples
Senhor José remains stationary, but this lengthy series of clauses propels the reader along an unmarked path.
Italy and Greece both have clauses under which women can give birth anonymously.
Ted had a similar compact with John Kennedy: Be direct, and to the point; use short words and clauses; aim for clarity.
Historical Examples
Perhaps you would like to become acquainted with some clauses in it.
A Comedy of Marriage and Other TalesGuy De Maupassant
"The joining together two clauses with a third," etc.; read, "of two clauses," etc.
The VerbalistThomas Embly Osmun, (AKA Alfred Ayres)
Select the clauses of the first part that are equal in rank and have the same Shading.
The Ontario High School ReaderA.E. Marty
These deal with the relative importance of words, phrases, or clauses.
The Ontario High School ReaderA.E. Marty
What clauses in this paragraph are really parenthetical in force?
The Ontario High School ReaderA.E. Marty
clause
- grammar a group of words, consisting of a subject and a predicate including a finite verb, that does not necessarily constitute a sentenceSee also main clause, subordinate clause, coordinate clause
- a section of a legal document such as a contract, will, or draft statute
Word Origin
Word Origin and History for clauses
clause
n.
c.1200, "a sentence, a brief statement, a short passage," from Old French clause "stipulation" (in a legal document), 12c., from Medieval Latin clausa "conclusion," used in the sense of classical Latin clausula "the end, a closing, termination," also "end of a sentence or a legal argument," from clausa, fem. noun from past participle of claudere "to close, to shut, to conclude" (see close (v.)). Grammatical sense is from c.1300. Legal meaning "distinct condition, stipulation, or proviso" is recorded from late 14c. in English. The sense of "ending" seems to have fallen from the word between Latin and French.
clause
A group of words in a sentence that contains a subject and predicate. (See dependent clause and independent clause.)