Where does “clever” come from?
clever (German) comes from English clever, from Middle English cliver, from Old English clifer — claw, hand.
clever (German): clever
Ancestry of “clever”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | clever | Nimble with hands or body; skillful; adept;... |
| 2 | Middle English | cliver | tenacious |
| 3 | Old English | clifer | claw, hand |