clavis

English

Etymology

From Latin clāvis.

Pronunciation

Noun

clavis (plural clavises or claves)

  1. (archaeology) A Roman key.
    • 1873, "Proceedings", April 9th, Journal of the British Archaeological Association, 29: 202
      Iron clavis, the solid web-shaped at the edges to fit the wards in the lock, and having a pointed broach and a kite-formed looped haft.
  2. A device for restraint of the hands.
    • 1904, Luther V. Bell, quoted in The Arena, 32: 540
      His hands were restrained by means of a clavis and bolt (of iron), appropriated to each wrist, and united by a padlock.
  3. A glossary.
    • 1784, William Cowper, in [1836] Robert Southey (ed.), The Works of William Cowper, with a Life of the Author, volume V, page 54
      Homer, with a clavis, I have had possession of some years.
  4. (biology) A key; an identification guide; a series of logically organized groups of discriminating information which aims to allow the user to correctly identify a taxon.
    • 1921, Journal of Botany 59: 180
      There are many disadvantages in using a clavis intended for another country, which necessarily includes plants that are absent from our islands while it omits some that are present and neglects the peculiarities of our island flora.

Synonyms

Related terms

Translations

archaeology: Roman key
device for restraint of the hands
glossary — see glossary
biology: key; identification guide
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Latin

clāvis (a key)

Etymology

Either a secondary i-stem derivation of clāvus (“nail”), an inherited Indo-European word originally denoting an instrument for unlocking doors, or a loanword from Ancient Greek κλείς (kleís).

Pronunciation

Noun

clāvis (genitive clāvis); f, third declension

  1. key
    • p. 27 BCE, Titus Livius, Ab Urbe Condita, liber XXIV
      Post hanc orationem claves portarum pecuniaeque regiae ante pedes eorum posuit.
      After this discourse he laid the keys of the gates and of the royal treasure at their feet.
    • 405, Jerome and others, Vulgate, Iudicum 3:25
      […] et videntes quod nullus aperiret tulerunt clavem et aperientes invenerunt dominum suum iacentem in terra mortuum
      […] and, behold, he did not open the doors; therefore they took a key and opened [the doors] to enter [but] their lord was lying dead on the ground.
  2. lever or bar for tightening a screw press

Usage notes

No to be confused with clāva (“club”) or clāvus (“nail”).

Inflection

Number Singular Plural
nominative clāvis clāvēs
genitive clāvis clāvium
dative clāvī clāvibus
accusative clāvim

clāvem

 clāvīs

clāvēs
ablative clāvī

clāve

 clāvibus
vocative clāvis clāvēs

Derived terms

Related terms

Descendants

See also

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Last modified on 20 May 2013, at 13:03