Clung

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /klʌŋ/

Definitions

1. Held tightly to an object or person, preventing separation
2. Grasped or stuck firmly to a surface or individual with strong attachment
3. Maintained a close or secure grip on something to avoid letting go

Etymology: "Clung" is the past tense and past participle of "cling," so its story is really the story of the verb. The verb descends from Old English "clingan," meaning "to adhere," which traces back through Proto-Germanic to a root shared with Danish "klynge," meaning "to cluster" or "to crowd." That Danish cousin hints at the original picture: things gathering tightly together, much as "clump" still does in English. The sound of the word may be part of its origin. Linguists generally class "cling" as imitative, a word shaped to echo the noise it describes, alongside "clink" and "clang." The "-ng" ending in all three suggests a resonant, lingering sound, and "cling" carries that same sense of holding on and not letting go.

Synonyms: gripped, held, attached, stuck, adhered

Antonyms: released, let go, separated, loosened, detached