clem

[ klem ]

/ klɛm /

to starve.

Origin of clem

1530–40; akin to Middle English forclemmed (past participle) pinched with hunger, Old English beclemman to fetter

Clem

[ klem ]

/ klɛm /

a male given name, form of Clement.

He shrugged and turned away, and Poppy, looking round for the others, caught Clem Portal's face with the mask off for one moment.

Poppy |Cynthia Stockley
It was all in such a scramble, that I had no notion there was anything amiss till Clem began to talk on the way home.'

The Pillars of the House, Vol. I (of 2) |Charlotte M. Yonge
Mrs. Clem Hodson quite agreed with Miss Cronin on that point.

December Love |Robert Hichens
Clem'ent (Justice), a man quite able to discern between fun and crime.

Character Sketches of Romance, Fiction and the Drama, Vol 1 |The Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D.

When Clem appeared, he placed us side by side, and fastened us together with hand-cuffs—my left hand to his right.

Twelve Years a Slave |Solomon Northup

clem

/ (klɛm) /

(when tr, usually passive) English dialect to be hungry or cause to be hungry

C16: of Germanic origin; related to Dutch, German klemmen to pinch, cramp; compare Old English beclemman to shut in