Definition of clause

The word "clause" has its roots in Latin. The Latin word "clausula" means "a shutting or closing," and it was used to describe a part of a book or a document that was closed or concluded, such as the final verse of a poem or the last sentence of a contract. The Latin word is derived from "claudere," which means "to shut" or "to close." Over time, the Latin word "clausula" was borrowed into Middle English as "clause," and it retained its original meaning of a part of a document that was closed or concluded. In the 14th century, the meaning of the word expanded to include any part of a statement that was independent or separate, such as a sentence or a phrase. Today, a clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a predicate and expresses a complete thought.