clem
verb (used with or without object)
to starve.
clem
1 American
[klem]
/ klɛm /
verb (used with or without object)
British Dialect.
clemmed,
clemming
Clem
2
American
[klem]
/ klɛm /
noun
clem
British
/ klɛm /
verb
Etymology
Origin of clem
1530–40; akin to Middle English forclemmed (past participle) pinched with hunger, Old English beclemman to fetter
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
I clem up, rech up and got holt of that box and I was so heavy I pulled it down and broke all the old blue edge plates.
From Slave Narratives: a Folk History of Slavery in the United States From Interviews with Former Slaves Arkansas Narratives, Part 3 by Work Projects Administration
"I cannot eat stones and turfs: say, what will he clem me and my followers?"
From Notes and Queries, Number 191, June 25, 1853 A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc. by Bell, George
The family lived upon their savings as long as they lasted, and then were compelled to apply for relief, or "clem."
From Home-Life of the Lancashire Factory Folk during the Cotton Famine by Waugh, Edwin
Hard is the choice when the valiant must eat their arms, or clem.
From Every Man out of His Humour by Jonson, Ben
I clem up and look through the log cracks at him cutting up the meat fer the hands on his place.
From Slave Narratives: A Folk History of Slavery in the United States from Interviews with Former Slaves, Arkansas Narratives, Part 4 by Work Projects Administration
One Labour source joked, "there are rumours that they've brought an ouija board through the green baize door to consult Clem Atlee and Harold Wilson".
From BBC ● May 9, 2026
"They work for a period of years to earn and graduate essentially into this role and working in the front room," Clem added.
From Barron's ● Apr. 4, 2026
The responses include Sweetwater customers sending Clem photos of their home studios.
From MarketWatch ● Feb. 24, 2026
People smile, Clem said, “when they see the possibilities,” when they join the chorus and the cause, and rather than retreat in silence, make themselves heard.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 5, 2026
Just see Lymon and hear Errol and Clem laughing.
From "Finding Langston" by Lesa Cline-Ransome
"I'm fair clemmed wi' cold and wet," the swagger said, still bundled up in his comparatively sheltered corner.
From Station Amusements in New Zealand by Barker, Lady (Mary Anne)
Ye'll be nigh clemmed after your drive, I take it, and more than ready for your teas.
From The Fortunes of Philippa A School Story by Brazil, Angela
Will you be clemmed, or will you be worried?'
From Mary Barton by Gaskell, Elizabeth Cleghorn
Thursday, December 31st, New Year's Eve.—Still at Sotteville, and clemmed with cold.
From Diary of a Nursing Sister on the Western Front, 1914-1915 by Anonymous
There beant nowheres such a good lad as our Reuben; and to be clemmed to death, and froze!
From Olive A Novel by Bowers, G.
It's made many of us keen for all our lives," he remarked, "all that clemming for education.
From The New Machiavelli by Wells, H. G. (Herbert George)
Now clemming is a quiet death, and worrying isn't, so I choose clemming, and come into th' Union.
From Mary Barton by Gaskell, Elizabeth Cleghorn
Our business being, yo' understand, to take the bated' wage, and be thankful, and their business to bate us down to clemming point, to swell their profits.
From North and South by Gaskell, Elizabeth Cleghorn
I told you where a letter would find me; and here are you all clemming, and me know nought of it.
From Facing Death The Hero of the Vaughan Pit. A Tale of the Coal Mines by Henty, G. A. (George Alfred)
I have heerd they're a pack of spiritless, down-trodden men; welly clemmed to death; too much dazed wi' clemming to know when they're put upon.
From North and South by Gaskell, Elizabeth Cleghorn
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
