clause

Definitions

clause comes from Latin clausa, 'a closed-off thing,' from claudere (shut). A clause is a self-contained, 'closed' unit: a grammatical clause closes around its own subject and verb; a legal clause is a sealed-off section of a contract that stands on its own. Each one is a little enclosure of meaning.

Why It Means This

Clause looks unrelated to close, but they're the same Latin word wearing different French clothes. Latin clausa meant 'something shut off.' Grammar borrowed it for a unit of language that 'closes' neatly around a subject-verb pair; law borrowed it for a self-contained provision. Both senses share the idea of a bounded, sealed-off piece — a fenced enclosure, but made of words.

Common Collocations

• 1.relative clause关系从句
• 2.subordinate clause从属分句
• 3.confidentiality clause保密条款
• 4.escape clause免责条款

Example Sentences

• 1.

  A relative clause begins with 'who,' 'which,' or 'that.'

• 2.

  The contract has a clause that lets you cancel within 14 days.

• 3.

  They added a confidentiality clause to the agreement.