clench

Etymology

From Middle English clenchen, from Old English clenċan (“to clinch; hold fast”), a variant of Old English clenġan (“to adhere; remain”), from Proto-Germanic *klangijaną, causative of *klinganą (“to stick; adhere”). Related to cling.

verb

  1. To grip or hold fast.
    Clinch the pointed spear.
  2. To close tightly.
    He clenched his fist in anger.

noun

  1. A tight grip.
  2. (engineering) A seal that is applied to formed thin-wall bushings.
  3. A local chapter of the Church of the SubGenius parody religion.
    And perhaps most innovative of all, Drummond and Stang pushed for a policy of clench autonomy […] 1989, Ted Schultz, The Fringes of Reason, page 210
    Every SubGenius clench is required to have a member who does not believe […] 2003, Peter Knight, Conspiracy Theories in American History: An Encyclopedia, page 170
    Originality is encouraged, and some clenches have devised their own distinctive organizational names […] 2012, George D. Chryssides, Historical Dictionary of New Religious Movements, page 95
  4. (archaic) A pun

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