climate 
3. The characteristic condition of a country or 
region in respect to amount or variations of 
heat and cold, moisture and dryness, wind and 
calm, etc. ; especially, the combined result of 
all the meteorological phenomena of any region, 
as affecting its vegetable and animal produc- 
tions, the health, comfort, pursuits, and intel- 
lectual development of mankind, etc. 
The climate's delicate ; the air most sweet. 
Shak., W. T., iii. 1. 
This talent of moving the passions cannot be of any 
great use in the northern climates. Swift. 
[As used by the Greeks, the word icAi><i denoted properly a 
slope or an incline, and was applied to mountain-slopes (*Ai- 
nai-o opcli/), but especially U> the apparent slope or inclina- 
tion of the earth toward the pole. Hence the word came 
gradually to be used as nearly the equivalent of zone (but 
not uf the divisions of the earth's surface now so named). 
A change of "climate" took place, in going north, on ar- 
riving at a place where the day was half an hour longer or 
shorter, according to the season, than at the point from 
which the start was made. The same was the meaning 
of the word climate as used by the early English naviga- 
tors (see def. 1). Gradually the change of temperature 
consequent on moving north or south came to l>e considered 
of more importance than the length of the day. Hence 
the word climate came finally to have the meaning now 
attached to it. ] Continental Climate. See continental. 
climatet (kli'mat), v. i. [< climate, n.~] To 
dwell ; reside in a particular region. [Rare.] 
The blessed gods 
Purge all infection from our air, whilst you 
Do climate here ! Sltak., W. T., v. 1. 
climatic (kli-mat'ik), a. [< climate + -ic.~] Re- 
lating to or connected with climate : as, " a cli- 
matic division," Tennent. 
The important climatic factors are temperature, mois- 
ture, cloudiness, wind, atmospheric pressure, evaporation, 
and the chemical composition of the air. Science, III. 163. 
climatical (kli-mat'i-kal), a. Same as climatic. 
[Rare.] 
climatically (kli-mat'i-kal-i), adv. As re- 
gards or with reference to climate. 
Its climatically insulated position gives it an evenness 
of temperature. The. Century, XXVI. 803. 
climaticity (kli-ma-tis'i-ti), n. [< climatic + 
-if//.] The capability of being acclimatized; 
the conditions under which acclimatization can 
be successfully carried out. 
climation (kli-ma'shon), n. [< climate: see 
-ation. Cf. acclimation.] The act of inuring 
to a climate; acclimation. [Rare.] 
climatize (kli'ma-tiz), v. ; pret. and pp. clima- 
ttzed, ppr. cUmaiizing. [< climate + -ize.] I. 
trans. To accustom to a new climate, as a plant ; 
acclimatize. 
II. intrant. To become acclimated or accli- 
matized. 
Also spelled climatise. 
climatographical (kli' / ma-to-graf'i-kal), a. [< 
climatography + -icaZ.] Belonging to climatog- 
raphy. 
climatography (kli-ma-tog'ra-fi), . [< Gr. 
/c/U/ia(r-) (see climate) + -ypatyia,<. ypatyeiv, write.] 
A description of climates, or a study of their 
distribution and variations. 
climatological (kll' / ma-to-loj'i-kal), a. [< 
climatology + -ieal.~] Relating to or connected 
with climatology. 
climatologically (kli'ma-to-loj'i-kal-i), adv. 
As regards climate; with reference to clima- 
tology. 
The larger part of the land-masses of the globe remained 
climatologically unaffected. The American, V. 123. 
climatologist (kll-ma-tol'o-jist), M. [< clima- 
tology + -j'si.] One skilled in, or who makes a 
special study of, climatology. 
The climatologist, in treating the causes of climate, 
necessarily makes use of the laws which the meteorologist 
in his broader study of atmospheric phenomena has de- 
duced, and, in turn, furnishes the latter with facts which 
he must account for by the meteorological principles he 
Science., III. 162. 
has established. 
climatology (kli-ma-tol'o-ji), n. [= F. clima- 
tologie, etc., < Gr. K/U/Z(T-) (see climate) + 
-tjoyia, < 'Atyeiv, speak: see -ology.] The science 
of climate ; the study of the climatic conditions 
of different parts of the earth's surface, or of 
particular regions : nearly equivalent to mete- 
orology, which is more commonly used. 
climatometer (kli-ma-tom'e-ter), n. [< Gr. 
t&i/ia(T-) (see climate) + ptTpov, measure: see 
meter.] An instrument used to detect fluctua- 
tions in the conditions of sensible temperature. 
climaturet (kli'ma-tur), n. [< F. climature, < 
elimat + -ure : see 'cfimate and -ure.'] A climate. 
Demonstrated 
Unto our climatures and countrymen. 
Shale., Hamlet, i. 1. 
climax (kli'maks), n. [= F. climax, etc., < 
LL. climax, a climax, < Gr. K?.i,uaf, a ladder, a 
1046 
staircase, a climax in rhetoric, < Mveiv, slope : 
see dine. Cf. climacter and climate. The E. 
word ladder is from the same ult. root.] 1. In 
rhet., originally, such an arrangement of suc- 
cessive clauses that the last important word 
of one is repeated as the first important word 
of the next ; accumulated epanastrophe ; hence 
(since this arrangement is generally adopted for 
the sake of graduated increase in force or em- 
phasis), a figure by which a series of clauses or 
phrases is so arranged that each in turn sur- 
passes the preceding one in intensity of ex- 
pression or importance of meaning. See anti- 
climax. An example of climax in both its earlier and its 
established meaning is found in the following passage : 
"We glory in tribulations also : knowing that tribulation 
worketli patience ; and patience, experience ; and experi- 
ence, hope ; and hope maketh not ashamed." Horn. v. 3, 4. 
It may as well be called the clyming figure, for Clymax 
is as much to say as a ladder. 
Puttenham, Arte of Eng. Poesie, p. 173. 
2. In logic : (a) A sorites, or chain of reason- 
ing, (b) The sophism called sorites (which 
see). 3. The highest point of intensity, de- 
velopment, etc. ; the culmination ; acme : as, 
he was then at the climax of his fortunes. 
We must look higher for the climax of earthly good. 
Is. Taylor. 
" From the court," 
She auswer'd, " then ye know the Prince ? " and he : 
" The climax of his age ! " Tennyson, Princess, ii. 
Sometimes the climax of a character is reached only in 
old age, when storms have wreaked their fury for a life- 
time on a soul. C. J. Bellamy, Breton Mills, p. 43. 
To cap the climax. See copi. 
climax (kli'maks), v. i. [< climax, .] To 
reach the highest point or climax ; culminate. 
[Rare.] 
The excitement in his blood . . . climaxed suddenly in 
her presence. The Century, XXV. 111. 
climb (klim), v. ; pret. and pp. climbed or clomb 
(the latter obsolete except in poetry), ppr. 
climbing. [Early mod. E. also clime, clyme; < 
ME. climben, climen, clemen (pret. clam, clamb, 
clomb, pi. clamben, clomben, clumben, clomme, pp. 
clomben, clumben), < AS. climban (pret. 'clamb, 
'clomm (in comp. oferclomm), pi. "clumbon, clum- 
ben, pp. "clumben) = MD. I), klimmen = OHG. 
chlimban, MHG. chlimben, klimben, klimmen, G. 
klimmen, climb ; cf . MG. klimmen, pinch, hold 
fast, MHG. verldimmen, in pp. verklommen, be- 
numbed with cold (see clumse) ; from the orig. 
verb, Teut. *kliman (AS. "climman), stick to, ad- 
here, whence also the series clam 1 , clam 2 , clem 2 , 
clamp 1 , etc. : see these words. Cf. also obs. 
dive 1 , climb, and cling.} I. intrans. 1. To 
mount or ascend ; especially, ascend by means 
of both the hands and the feet. 
Chyld, clem thou not ouer hows ne walle 
For no frute, bryddes, ne balle. 
Babees Book (E. E. T. S.), p. 400. 
He up arose, as halfe in great disdafne, 
And clombe unto his steed. 
Spenser, F. Q., III. iv. 61. 
Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet. 
1 Sam. xiv. 13. 
Zacchreus . . . climbed up into a sycamore tree. 
Luke xix. 4. 
Hence 2. Figuratively, to rise slowly as if by 
climbing; ascend; rise. 
Some [men] climb to Good, some from good Fortune fall. 
Cowley, Pindaric Odes, vi. 2. 
Till clomb above the eastern bar 
The horned moon. 
Coleridge, Ancient Mariner, iii. 
We may climb into the thin and cold realm of pure ge- 
ometry and lifeless science, or sink into that of sensation. 
Emerson, Experience. 
3. Specifically, of plants, to ascend by means 
of tendrils or adhesive fibers, or by twining the 
stem or leaf -stalk round a support, as ivy and 
honeysuckle. 
Blend 
Thee with us or us with thee 
As climbing plant or propping tree. 
Browning, Dramatic Lyrics, xv. 
II. trans. 1. To go up on or surmount, es- 
pecially by the use of both the, hands and feet. 
They shall climb the wall like men of war. Joel ii. 7. 
Ah ! who can tell how hard it is to climb 
The steep where Fame's proud temple stands afar? 
Beattie, The Minstrel, i. 1. 
Hence 2. Figuratively, to ascend or mount 
as if by climbing. 
With how sad steps, O Moon, thou climb' tt the skies ! 
Sir P. Sidney, Astrophel and Stella, st. 31. 
3f. To attain as if by climbing ; achieve slowly 
or with effort. 
Bowing his head against the steepy mount 
To climb his happiness. Shak., T. of A., i. 1. 
clinandrium 
climb (klim), n. [< climb, i'.] A climbing; an 
ascent by climbing. 
You have not forgotten . . . our climb to the Cleft Sta- 
tion. Tyndall, Forms of Water, p. 155. 
climbable (kll'ma-bl), o. [< climb + -able.'] 
Capable of being climbed or ascended. 
I ... climbed everything climbable, and eat everything 
eatable. M. W. Savage, R. Medlieott, ii. 3. 
climber 1 (kli'mer), . [< climb + -!.] 1. One 
who or that which climbs, mounts, or rises ; one 
who ascends by labor or effort. 2. In bot., a 
plant that rises by attaching itself to some sup- 
port ; specifically, in England, the virgin's-bow- 
er, Clematis Vitalba. climbing plants are distinguish- 
ed as stem-climbers, which, like the hop, wind upward 
around an upright support, and as tendril-climbers, which, 
like the grape-vine, cling to adjacent objects by slender 
coiling tendrils. Other plants climb also by means of re- 
trorse bristles or spines, or by means of rootlets. 
Twiners are distinguished from proper climbers by the 
absence of any special organs . . , for grasping supports; 
t-liinhrrs being provided with some sort of tendrils or oth- 
er help. G. L. Goodale, Physiological Botany, p. 405. 
3. pi. In ornith., the birdsof the oldorder Scan- 
sores, as the parrots, cockatoos, woodpeckers, 
etc. : so called from their climbing habits. 
They have two toes before and two behind. 
4. A locomotive with driving-wheels fitted to 
a cog-rail, for ascending steep grades. 5. pi. 
Same as climbing-irons. 
climber 2 t, v. i. [A variation of clamber, in imi- 
tation of climb.} To climb; mount with effort ; 
clamber. 
Beware how you climber for breaking your neck. 
Tusser, March's Husbandry, xxxvii. 28. 
Climbing-boy (kli'ming-boi), n. A young chim- 
ney-sweep who climbed chimneys from the in- 
side. Chimney- 
sweeping by 
climbing-boys is 
now prohibited. 
PEng.] 
climbing-fern 
(kli'ming-fern'), 
n. A name of 
species of the 
genus Lygodium, 
of which there 
are several na- 
tive to Japan, 
Australia, and 
tropical Ameri- 
ca. A single spe- 
cies, L. palmatum, 
is found in the Unit- 
ed States, a deli- 
cate climbing plant, 
with palmately lob- 
ed fronds, and the 
fertile fronds sev- 
eral times forked, 
forming a terminal 
panicle. 
climbing-fish. 
(kli' ruing -fish), 
n. A fish of the family Anabantida;, Anabas scan- 
dens. The gill-covers are the principal means 
by which the fish climbs. Also called climbing- 
perch. See Anabas. 
Climbing-irons (kli'ming-i'erns), n. pi. Iron 
frames to which spikes are affixed, which are 
fastened to the feet or to the legs below the 
knee, and used in climbing trees, telegraph- 
poles, etc. Also called climbers and creepers. 
Fitting new straps to his climbing-irom. 
T. Hughes, Tom Brown at Rugby. 
climbing-perch (kli'ming-perch), n. Same as 
climbing-fish. 
climbing-staff tree. The Colastrtts scandens. 
climeM, v. An obsolete variant of climb. 
clime 2 (klim), . [< L. clima, a clime, region : 
see climate.'] A tract or region of the earth. 
Whatever clime the sun's bright circle warms. 
MUton, Sonnets, iii. 
Clime of the unforgotten brave. Byron, The Giaour. 
To England, over vale and mountain, 
My fancy flew from climes more fair. 
If. P. Willis. 
climp 1 (klimp), i: t. [Sc., prob. for *clfmp as 
a secondary form of clamp 1 , r., though in form 
like the orig. verb (= MHG. klimpfen), to which 
clamp 1 is ult. referred : see clamp 1 .'] To hook ; 
snatch ; take hold of suddenly. 
climp 2 (klimp), v. i. [Sc. ; cf. clamp*, clump^.] 
To limp ; halt. 
clinandrium (kli-nan'dri-um), n. ; pi. clinan- 
dria (-a). [NL., < Gr. nUvi;, a bed (< idivuv, 
slope: see dine), + avf/p (avA/>-), a man.] In 
bot., a cavity at the apex of the column in or- 
chids, in which the anthers rest. Sometimes 
called androclinium. 
Climbing-fern {Ijgodmm palmatum). 
(From " The Garden."} 
