Cling
/klɪŋ/noun
To hold tightly to something or someone, or to remain very close to it.
Did you know?Cling is tied to a Germanic root meaning “to stick, adhere, or cohere,” the same deep family behind words like “clench” and “clung,” where the body’s grip became the language of attachment.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*gley-
“to stick together, be sticky”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*klenganan / *klangjaną
“to cling, adhere”
Old English
English
clingan
“to cling, adhere, stick fast”
Middle English
English
clingen
“to cling tightly, adhere”
Modern English
English
cling
“to hold fast or adhere closely”