1485, Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, Book XVII:And with that he saw the chambir dore opyn, and there cam oute a grete clerenesse, that the house was as bryght as all the tourcheis of the worlde had bene there.
Mental or sensory distinctness; clarity of understanding, perception etc. from 16th c.
1966, "The Lowest Depths", Time, 6 sep 1966:The daily press is the evil principle of the modern world, and time will only serve to disclose this fact with greater and greater clearness.
The state of being free from obscurities or opacity; distinctness of light, colour etc. from 17th c.The clearness of the water meant I could still see the key lying on the river-bed.
The state of being free from obstruction or interference. from 17th c.The clearness of the path made for an easy hike.
