clause — English Dictionary

Noun

1. A group of words that contains a subject and a verb; it may be part of a sentence or may constitute the whole sentence, depending on the syntax in each instance.

   Synonyms

   sententialsentence

   Examples

   Near-synonyms: sentential, sentence

2. A verb, its necessary grammatical arguments, and any adjuncts affecting them.

3. A verb along with its subject and their modifiers. If a clause provides a complete thought on its own, then it is an independent (superordinate) clause; otherwise, it is dependent (subordinate). (Independent clauses can be sentences; they can also be part of a sentence. Dependent clauses can only be part of a sentence.)

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   However, Coordination facts seem to undermine this hasty conclusion: thus, consider the following: (43) [Your sister could go to College], but [would she get a degree?] The second (italicised) conjunct is a Clause containing an inverted Auxiliary, would. Given our earlier assumptions that inverted Auxiliaries are in C, and that C is a constituent of S-bar, it follows that the italicised Clause in (43) must be an S-bar. But our familiar constraint on Coordination tells us that only constituents belonging to the same Category can be conjoined. Since the second Clause in (43) is clearly an S-bar, then it follows that the first Clause must also be an S-bar — one in which the C(omplementiser) position has been left empty.

4. A distinct part of a contract, a will or another legal document.

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   Mr. Waller adds that when the railway was authorised in 1897, one of the clauses of the Act authorising the transfer of the line to the North British Railway provided that that company should work it in perpetuity, and it was this clause that caused the interim interdict to be granted.

5. A constituent (component) of a statement or query.

Verb

1. To amend (a bill of lading or similar document).

   Usage

   • Transitive

   Examples

   The question of clausing the bills of lading, so as to avoid "dirtying", which impairs its negotiability, may also be looked into

   Any attempt to clause a Bill of Lading will be strenuously resisted by shippers, and they will obtain clean bills in the usual ways

   More examples (2)

   It was held that the bills of lading presented were in this case 'clean' as they contained no reservations by way of endorsement, clausing or otherwise to suggest that the goods were defective

   There is little authority in English law dealing with the liability of a carrier who unnecessarily clauses a bill of lading.

Noun

1. (grammar) an expression including a subject and predicate functioning as a part of a complex sentence

   Broader terms

   constructiongrammatical constructionexpression

2. a separate section of a legal document (as a statute or contract or will)

   Synonyms

   article

   Broader terms

   sectionsubdivision