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Clause
Letter-clause, a close letter sealed with the royal signet or
privy-seal, in opposition to letters-patent, which are left
open, the seal being attached simply as a legal form (“Clause,” Latin clausus, shut, closed.
“Patent,” Latin patens, open.)
Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894 More on Clause from Infoplease:
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