On 5-Sep-2009, H the K wrote:

clause, n.

(klɔ�z)

Also 4–6 claus, 5 clawse, clausse.

[a. OF. clause, ad. late or med.L. clausa, app. in sense of L. clausula
close of a period or formula, conclusion, clause, dim. of *clausa,
itself not recorded as n. in ancient Latin; f. L. claudĕre, claus-um to
close. Cf. Pr. clauza; It. uses clausula.]

1. a.1.a A short sentence; a single passage or member of a discourse or
writing; a distinct part or member of a sentence, esp. in Gramm.
Analysis, one containing a subject and predicate. Also attrib. and Comb.
clause, n.

* Date: 14th century
Idiot:

1: usually offensive : a person affected with extreme mental retardation
2 : a foolish or stupid person

— idiot adjective