Also 5 clustir, 6 clouster, cloyster; pa. t. and pple. 5 clustret, -id, -it, 5–7 clustred; pr. pple. 7–8 clustring. [f. prec. sb.]
I. trans.
1. To gather or group in a cluster. (Usually in pa. pple.)
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., V. xlii. (1495), 159. The guttes ben clustred and bound togider.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 3668. Grapis of gracious stanes. Sum were of cristall clere clustrid to-gedire.
1712. Steele, Spect., No. 294, ¶ 1. All the Jewels that … can be clustered in her Bosom.
1832. Ht. Martineau, Ella of Gar., i. 1. The islands which are clustered around the Western shore of Argyleshire.
1842. Tennyson, Two Voices, xxiv.
| Not less the bee would range her cells, | |
| The furzy prickle fire the dells, | |
| The foxglove cluster dappled bells. |
2. To furnish or cover with clusters. (In pa. pple.)
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 978. A clene croune on his hede clustird with gemmes.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 1634. Ylion was … clustrit with towres.
1797. Southey, Lett. fr. Spain (1799), 158. Mountains clustered with the fruitful pines. Ibid. (1830), Yng. Dragon, IV. The walls and towers are cluster’d And every hill and height … is throng’d.
1856. Masson, Ess. Prose & V., 462. When the stem of the original poetic thought … is clustered over with rich parasitic fancies.
II. intr.
3. To congregate in a cluster or group; to assemble, collect closely.
1541. Paynell, Catiline, xiv. 18 b. Cloustrynge together in companyes by nyght, they prepared weapons.
1576. Fleming, Panoplie Ep., 276. The rest clustering about mee.
1618. Bolton, Florus, II. vi. 96. Swarms of bees which clustred upon the Roman ensignes.
1742. Young, Nt. Th., iii. 63. Woes cluster; rare are solitary woes.
1837. Disraeli, Venetia, I. x. They were glad to cluster round the large fire.
1884. W. C. Smith, Kildrostan, 58.
| And all their happiest memories cluster round | |
| Those of your name and you. |
4. To grow or be situated in a cluster or in clusters, to form a cluster.
1590–1634. [see CLUSTERING ppl. a.].
1798. Wordsw., We are Seven, i. Many a curl … clustered round her head.
1827. Keble, Chr. Y., Thursday bef. Easter. That grapes of gall Should cluster round thine healthiest shoot.
1860. Maury, Phys. Geog. Sea, xi. § 504. The antarctic icebergs which cluster off the Falkland Islands.
b. Of shot fired from a gun: see CLUB v. 5 b.
c. intr. sense corresponding to 2. (Cf. to swarm with.)
1842. S. Lover, Handy Andy, lii. 378. Stupendous crags, clustering with all variety of verdure.
† 5. To form into clots, to clot or stick together. Obs. rare. Cf. CLUTTER.
1561. Hollybush, Hom. Apoth., 17 a. Put in eche of the bagges an vnce of cumin, and quilt the same bagges croswyse that the cumin do not cluster.
