clensen

Middle English

Alternative forms

• clense, clensyn
• klensy (Kent); clence, clens, clensse (Northern)
• clanse, clansi, cleansin, clensien (Southern, West Midland)
• clennsenn (Ormulum)

Etymology

Inherited from Old English clǣnsian, from Proto-West Germanic *klainisōn; compare clene and clengen.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈklɛnzən/
• IPA^(key): /klɛns/ (Northern)
• IPA^(key): /ˈklanziː/, /ˈklanzən/ (Southern, West Midland)

Verb

clensen (third-person singular simple present clenseth, present participle clensende, clensynge, first-/third-person singular past indicative and past participle clensed)

1. To clean or purify:
   1. To sift or strain as to refine.
   2. To wipe, sweep, or polish.
   3. (especially medicine) To purge or eliminate.
2. To cleanse; to spiritually purify:
   1. To sanctify; to ritually purify.
   2. To liberate from sin.
3. To heal or cure (of disease)
4. To brighten or beautify.

Conjugation

Conjugation of clensen (weak in -ed)

infinitive	(to) clensen, clense
	present tense	past tense
1st-person singular	clense	clensed
2nd-person singular	clensest	clensedest
3rd-person singular	clenseth	clensed
subjunctive singular	clense
imperative singular		—
plural1	clensen, clense	clenseden, clensede
imperative plural	clenseth, clense	—
participles	clensynge, clensende	clensed, yclensed

¹ Sometimes used as a formal 2nd-person singular.

Descendants

• English: cleanse
  • → Middle Scots: cleanse, clens

References

• “clensen, v.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.