cleaven.¹

Forms: Also 1500s cleefe.

Etymology: < Irish cliabh basket, cage, chest.

Irish English.

A basket.

ΘΚΠ

society > occupation and work > equipment > receptacle or container > basket > [noun]

teanela700

windlec725

spertc975

kipec1000

leapc1000

willyc1000

basketa1300

coopa1300

hoppera1300

ripc1300

skepc1340

coffinc1380

criba1387

skippetc1450

corfc1483

wisket1542

prickle1543

cleave1577

serpet1615

wicker1646

bascaud1647

shapeta1657

fender1682

canister1697

kist1724

calathus1753

voider1788

wick1802

skip1816

maeshie1822

1577 R. Stanyhurst Hist. Irelande iii. 102/1 in R. Holinshed Chron. I [He] wrapt the yong pacient as tenderly as he could, and had him conueyed in a cleefe with all speede to Ophaly.

1882 Standard 8 Dec. 3/4 The body..was placed in a cleave, or basket used for carrying turf.

1886 J. H. Tuke Rep. Distrib. Seed Potato Fund Hugh C—..has only two or three ‘cleaves’ of potatoes in the world.

Derivatives

cleaveful n.

ΚΠ

1800 M. Edgeworth Castle Rackrent 99 A couple of cleavesfull of the sods of his farm.

This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1889; most recently modified version published online December 2020).

cleaven.²

Brit.

/kliːv/, U.S.

/kliv/

Etymology: < cleave v.¹

A cleft.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > separation > action of dividing or divided condition > cleaving or splitting > [noun] > a division formed by cleaving

cleftc1374

cleavingc1400

scissure?a1425

clefture1540

hag1568

scission1578

clovec1593

split1598

cliff1605

fissure1609

dispartment1672

cleave1874

split1875

1874 G. M. Hopkins Note-bks. & Papers (1937) 204 Chudleigh Rocks..are a cliff over a deep and beautiful cleave.

c1881 G. M. Hopkins Serm. (1959) ii. iii. 154 In that ‘cleave’ of being which each of his creatures shews to God's eyes alone.

c1881 G. M. Hopkins Serm. (1959) 328 Like so many ‘cleaves’ or exposed faces of some pomegranates..cut in all directions across.

This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1972; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

cleavev.¹

Brit.

/kliːv/, U.S.

/kliv/

Inflections: Past tense clove, clave, cleaved, cleft; Past participle cloven, clove, cleaved, cleft;

Forms: 1. Present stem.

α. Old English cléofan, Middle English clefe, Middle English cleoven, Middle English clewe, Middle English–1500s cleeue, Middle English–1600s cleue, Middle English–1600s cleve. a1000 Gloss. Prudent. (Record) 150 (Bosw.) Cleofan, scindere.c1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 61 He wile smite..mid egge and cleuen.c1300 K. Alis. 7702 Many an hed wolde Y cleove.1340 R. Rolle Pricke of Conscience 6736 Þair hertes sal nere clewe [v.r. clefe].1483 Cath. Angl. 67 To cleve, scindere.1578 H. Lyte tr. R. Dodoens Niewe Herball vi. lxxxii. 762 Which will soone riue, or cleeue asunder.1727 R. Bradley Chomel's Dictionaire Oeconomique (Dublin ed.) at Hoof hurt The horn doth crack and cleve.

β. 1500s– cleaue, 1500s– cleave. 1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 486/2 I cleave a sonder.1558 W. Ward tr. G. Ruscelli Secretes Alexis of Piemount f. 112^v It cleaveth soonest by the fyre.1610 W. Folkingham Feudigraphia i. viii. 17 That Earth, that..doth clift and cleaue.1697 K. Chetwood Pref. to Pastorals in J. Dryden tr. Virgil Wks. sig. ***2 The homely Employment of cleaving Blocks.

γ. Middle English clyuyn, Middle English–1500s clyue, Middle English–1500s clyve, 1500s clyffe, 1500s–1600s cliue, 1500s–1600s clive. c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 82 Clyvyn or Parte a-sundyr a[s] men doone woode, findo.1558 T. Phaer tr. Virgil Æneid (1573) v. sig. N.iiij Along by heauen his arow driues..therwith the skies he cliues.1570 P. Levens Manipulus Vocabulorum sig. Ki^v/2 To Clyffe, scindere.1575 G. Gascoigne Noble Arte Venerie xliii. 135 Clyue the sydes one from another.1651 Raleigh's Appar. 90 To cliue and pierce the air.1686 Wilding in C. R. L. Fletcher Collectanea (1885) I. 264 For Wood & cliving it..4s. 10d.

2. Past tense.

α. (a) singular Old English cléaf, Middle English clæf, Middle English cleef, Middle English clef, Middle English clefe, Middle English cleve; (b) plural Middle English clef (rare). c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 10673 He..enne cniht atwa clæf [c1300 Otho al to-cleof].a1300 Fall & Pass. 70 in Early Eng. Poems & Lives Saints (1862) 14 Hi..clef is swet hert atwo.c1330 R. Mannyng Chron. (1810) 326 Þe walle þorghout þei clef.c1400 Mandeville's Trav. viii. 86 The Roche cleef in two.c1440 Generydes 3035 He cleue a ij his hede.c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 7318 He clefe hym to þe coler.

β. (a) plural Old English clufon, Middle English clowen, Middle English cluuen, Middle English– cloue, Middle English– clove; (b) singular Middle English clofe, Middle English clowe, Middle English–1600s cloue, Middle English– clove /kləʊv/, 1500s cloaue. 937 Batt. Brunanb. in Anglo-Saxon Chron. Bordweal clufan afaran Eadweardes.c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 961 His ban to-cluuen.c1300 K. Alis. 2765 This Thebes seyghen how men heom clowen.a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 7810 His herte in tua i wat i clowe [Vesp. claif, Fairf. claue, Trin. Cambr. cleef].c1430 Syr Gener. (Roxb.) 5169 Clofe the heid in twoo.1490 W. Caxton tr. Eneydos li. 144 Eneas..cloue hym vnto the teeth.1535 Bible (Coverdale) Psalms lxxviii. 15 He cloaue the hard rockes.1608 W. Shakespeare King Lear iv. 155 When thou clouest thy crowne it'h middle.1702 N. Rowe Tamerlane v. i. 2203 I clove the Villain down.1883 Longman's Mag. July 286 Into..the crowd porters clove their way with shouts.

γ. Middle English claf, Middle English clafe, Middle English claffe, Middle English–1500s claif, Middle English–1500s claiff, Middle English–1600s claue, 1500s– clave /kleɪv/. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 6262 It claue [Gött. clef, Trin. Cambr. cleef, Fairf. cleue], and gaue þam redi gat.c1430 Syr Gener. (Roxb.) 4752 He clafe his shelde in twoo.1470–85 T. Malory Morte d'Arthur (1889) xviii. i. 689 He claf his helme.1485 W. Caxton tr. Thystorye & Lyf Charles the Grete sig. i.j/2 The stroke..claffe a marble stone.1489 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (Adv.) v. 633 He ye hede till ye harnys claiff [1487 St. John's Cambr. clafe].a1533 Ld. Berners tr. Arthur of Brytayn (?1560) lxx. sig. Kiiii He claue him to the sholders.1535 W. Stewart tr. H. Boethius Bk. Cron. Scotl. (1858) II. 599 Richt to the schulderis doun he claif his heid.1563 2nd Tome Homelyes Death & Pass. Christ ii, in J. Griffiths Two Bks. Homilies (1859) ii. 422 The stones clave a sunder.1611 Bible (King James) Psalms lxxviii. 15 Hee claue the rockes in the wildernes.1755 J. Wesley Wks. (1872) II. 331 The earth also clave asunder.1885 Bible (R.V.) Psalms lxxviii. 13 He clave the sea.

δ. Middle English cleued, Middle English cleuede, Middle English cleufit, Middle English cleved, Middle English clevede, Middle English clevyd, Middle English clewed, 1700s–1800s cleaved /kliːvd/. c1300 K. Alis. 2340 A fayr baroun, He cleved to the breste adoun.c1300 K. Alis. 3790 He clewyd his scheld.a1440 Sir Eglam. 746 He clevyd hym by the rugge-bone.c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 4034 Fflodys..into caues..cleufit the erthe.1764 W. Falconer Shipwreck (new ed.) i. 37 She cleav'd the main.1853 E. K. Kane U.S. Grinnell Exped. xlvii. 444 The wild fowl..cleaved the misty atmosphere.

ε. 1500s– cleft /klɛft/. ?a1500 Chester Pl. (1847) ii. 70 The roccke that never before clyfte Clave that men mighte knowe.1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene i. ii. sig. B5^v It..cleft his head.1671 J. Milton Paradise Regain'd iii. 437 As the Red Sea and Jordan once he cleft.1752 E. Young Brothers i. i I cleft yon Alpine rocks.a1839 W. M. Praed Poems (1864) II. 406 She cleft it with her lover's brand.

3. Past participle.

α. Old English–Middle English clofen, Middle English–1600s clouen, Middle English– cloven /ˈkləʊv(ə)n/. c910 Charter Eadweard in Cod. Dipl. V. 179 Ofær ea on clofenan hlinc.c1330 R. Mannyng Chron. Wace (Rolls) 4420 Lite failled þat he ne had Clouen þe hed.a1475 Liber Cocorum (Sloane) (1862) 18 When þou hase..Clovyn hom.1577 B. Googe tr. C. Heresbach Foure Bks. Husbandry ii. f. 55 The stalke being tenderly clouen.1761 D. Hume Hist. Eng. I. viii. 182 Having cloven his head with many blows.1860 J. Tyndall Glaciers of Alps i. §1. 1 Cloven into thin plates.

β. Middle English clove, Middle English yclove, 1700s– clove /kləʊv/ (poetic). 1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (1724) 49 To haue y cloue hym al þat hed.c1385 G. Chaucer Legend Good Women Tisbe. 738 This wal..Was cloue a two.c1420 Chron. Vilod. 1033 Þe armes..from hurr' body y clove so was.1721 E. Young Revenge v. ii Till I had clove thy crest.1803 H. K. White Gondoline in Clifton Grove 60 His head, half clove in two.

γ. Middle English cleued, 1600s– cleaved /kliːvd/. Always used in Mineralogy and Geology.c1400 St. Alexius (Laud 622) Whan þe whal was to~cleued.?a1475 (?a1425) tr. R. Higden Polychron. (Harl. 2261) (1865) I. 353 A rodde, cleuede in the hier parte of it.1694 J. Narborough Acct. Several Late Voy. (1711) i. 51 Cleaved in his Quarters.1818 W. Phillips Outl. Mineral. & Geol. (ed. 3) 16 The topaz can only be readily cleaved in one direction.1830 A. W. Fonblanque Eng. under Seven Admin. (1837) II. 35 A force that would have cleaved an elephant in twain.

δ. Middle English– cleft. ▸ c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Matt. xxvii. 51 Stoonys ben cleft [c1400 Adv. clouen; a1425 L.V. weren cloue].1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomew de Glanville De Proprietatibus Rerum (1495) v. lx. 176 The synewe whyche is slytte and clouen..for yf a veyne be slytte and clefte.1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 486/2 As wodde is clefte.a1616 W. Shakespeare Two Gentlemen of Verona (1623) v. iv. 102 How oft hast thou with periury cleft the roote?1755 J. Wesley Wks. (1872) II. 331 One part of the solid stone is cleft from the rest.a1839 W. M. Praed Poems (1864) I. 352 His steel cap cleft in twain.

Origin: A word inherited from Germanic.

Etymology: Common Germanic: Old English clíofan, cléofan, past tense cléaf, plural clufon, past participle clofen, corresponding to Old Saxon clioƀan (Middle Dutch clieven, clûven, Dutch klieven), Old High German chlioban (Middle High German, modern German klieben), Old Norse kljúfa (Swedish klyfva, Danish klöve), not recorded in Gothic < Old Germanic type *kleuƀ-, klauƀ—kluƀum, kluƀano-, corresponding to pre-Germanic *gleubh-, in Greek γλυϕ- ‘to cut with a knife, carve’, and perhaps Latin glūb- ‘to peel, flay’. The early Middle English inflection was cleoven (clēven), clêf (plural cluven), cloven. Assimilation to the past participle soon changed the plural of the past tense to cloven, clove, and by 14th cent. clove was extended to the singular, where clêf, clêve, became obsolete about 1500, making the later inflection clēve, clōve, clōven. The past participle had also the shortened form clove, which survives as a variant in poetry. A past tense clave occurs in northern writers in 14th cent., passed into general use, and was very common down to c1600; it survives as a Bible archaism. A weak inflection cleaved came into use in 14th cent.; and subsequently a form cleft; both are still used, cleft especially in past participle, where it interchanges with cloven, with some differentiation in particular connections, as ‘cleft stick’, ‘cloven foot’: see these words.From the 14th cent. the inflectional forms of this verb have tended to run together with those of cleave v.² ‘to stick’. Though the latter was originally clive , it had also the variants cleove , clēve , the latter of which at length prevailed; the two verbs having thus become identical in the present stem were naturally confused in their other inflections. The (originally northern) past tense clave , which appeared in both in 14th cent., is not normal in either; it was apparently analogical, taken over from one of the other classes of strong verbs having a in the past, as < breke , brak(e , broken , speke , spak(e , spoken . (It would of course be possible to explain the past tense singular clove in the same way.) The weak past tense and past participle cleaved were probably mainly taken over from cleave v.², where they were original; but they might also arise independently in this verb. For the subsequent shortening of cleaved to cleft, there was the obvious precedent of leave, left, bereave, bereft, etc.

a. transitive. To part or divide by a cutting blow; to hew asunder; to split. Originally used of parting wood, or the like, ‘along the grain’, i.e. between its parallel fibres; hence, of dividing anything in the direction of its length, height, or depth; also, of dividing slate or crystals along their cleavage planes, and other things at their joints.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > separation > action of dividing or divided condition > cleaving or splitting > cleave or split [verb (transitive)]

to-cleavec888

cleavea1100

forcleavec1290

shidec1315

rivec1330

sheara1340

carvec1374

slivea1400

thrusche1483

porfend1490

splet1530

share?1566

spleet1585

splint1591

split1595

diverberate1609

fissure1656

spall1841

balkanize1942

a1100 Gerefa in Anglia (1886) 9 261 In miclum gefyrstum timber cleofan.

c1300 Havelok (Laud) (1868) 917 Ful wel kan ich cleuen shides.

1481 W. Caxton tr. Hist. Reynard Fox (1970) 15 A grete oke whiche he had begonne to cleue.

1600 W. Shakespeare Much Ado about Nothing ii. i. 238 She would haue made Hercules..haue cleft his club to make the fire.

1611 Bible (King James) Gen. xxii. 3 Abraham..claue the wood for the burnt offering.

1680 T. Otway Orphan ii. 16 I..Clove the Rebel to the Chine.

1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics ii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 85 The Dog-star cleaves the thirsty Ground.

1722 W. Sewel Hist. Quakers (1795) I. iii. 205 A butcher swore he would cleave her head.

1823 H. J. Brooke Familiar Introd. Crystallogr. 44 If a cube of blende..be cleaved in directions parallel to its diagonal planes.

1872 E. Peacock Mabel Heron iv. 55 The sections into which our society is cleft.

b. Often with asunder, in two, etc. to cleave down: to cut down.

ΚΠ

c1275 [see α. forms].

c1300 K. Alis. 2231 A-two [he] cleued his scheld.

c1320 Sir Beues 4514 Man and hors he cleuede doun.

c1490 Adam Bel & Clym C. 601 Cloudesly..Claue the wand in to.

1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene i. xi. sig. L4^v The knotty sting Of his huge taile he quite a sonder clefte.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Measure for Measure (1623) iii. i. 60 To cleaue a heart in twaine.

1785 T. Jefferson Notes Virginia iv. 31 The mountain being cloven asunder.

1855 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. III. 361 He was cloven down while struggling in the press.

c. To pierce and penetrate (air, water, etc.). Also to cleave one's way through.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement over, across, through, or past > [verb (transitive)] > through > sharply

cleave1558

cuta1571

harrow1582

divide1590

1558 [see γ. forms]. 1651 [see γ. forms].

1671 J. Milton Paradise Regain'd iii. 435 At their passing cleave the Assyrian flood.

1713 A. Pope Windsor-Forest 8 The fierce Eagle cleaves the liquid Sky.

1791 W. Cowper tr. Homer Iliad in Iliad & Odyssey I. ix. 447 Cleaving with my prows The waves of Hellespont.

1827 T. Carlyle Richter in Edinb. Rev. June 188 Whose wailings..have..cleft the general ear.

1852 W. J. Conybeare & J. S. Howson Life & Epist. St. Paul I. ix. 307 The vessel..would soon cleave her way through the strait.

1876 L. Morris Epic of Hades ii. 97 No sunbeam cleaves the twilight.

d. To intersect, penetrate, or fissure, in position.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > separation > action of dividing or divided condition > divide [verb (transitive)] > divide by passing across

intercut1611

transect1634

cleave1807

1807 J. Barlow Columbiad i. 33 Thine is the stream; it cleaves the well known coast.

1874 H. R. Reynolds John the Baptist iv. 232 Caverns which still cleave the limestone rocks.

e. Phrases. †to cleave a hair: cf. ‘to split hairs’. †to cleave the pin: (in archery) to hit the pin in the centre of the white of the butts (see pin n.¹ 2b); hence figurative.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > competitive shooting > archery > practise archery [verb (intransitive)] > hit centre of target

to cleave the pin1590

to make a gold1877

1590 C. Marlowe Tamburlaine: 1st Pt. sig. B6 For Kings are clouts that euery man shoots at, Our Crowne the pin that thousands seeke to cleaue.

1597 W. Shakespeare Romeo & Juliet ii. iii. 14 The verie pinne of his heart cleft with the blinde bow-boyes but-shaft.

a1627 T. Middleton No Wit (1657) ii. 34 I'll cleave the black pin in'th' midst o'th' white.

1655 T. Fuller Church-hist. Brit. iii. 83 To cleave an hair, betwixt the spiritual and temporal jurisdiction.

1655 T. Fuller Church-hist. Brit. ix. 106 M^r. Fox came not up in all particulars to cleave the pin of Conformity (as refusing to subscribe) yet [etc.].

2. To separate or sever by dividing or splitting.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > separation > separation or detachment > detach [verb (transitive)] > cut off

becarveOE

carvec1000

hewc1000

shredc1275

cuta1300

chapc1325

cleavec1330

off-shearc1330

withscore1340

to cut offc1380

colea1400

slivea1400

to score awayc1400

abscisea1500

discidea1513

sharea1529

off-trenchc1530

off-hewc1540

pare1549

detrench1553

slice?1560

detrunk1566

sneck1578

resect1579

shred1580

curtail1594

off-chop1594

lop?1602

disbranch1608

abscind1610

snip1611

circumcise1613

desecate1623

discerpa1628

amputate1638

absciss1639

prescind1640

notch1820

the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > separation > separate [verb (transitive)]

to-twemec893

sunderOE

asunderOE

shedOE

dealOE

shill1049

skillc1175

to-twinc1175

twinc1230

disseverc1250

depart1297

slita1300

to-throwc1315

parta1325

drevec1325

devisec1330

dividec1374

sever1382

unknit?a1425

divorce1430

separea1450

separate?a1475

untine1496

to put apart1530

discussa1542

deceper1547

disseparate1550

apart1563

unjoint1565

shoal1571

divisionatea1586

single1587

dispart1590

descide1598

disassociate1598

distract1600

dissolve1605

discriminate1615

dissociate1623

discerpa1628

discind1640

dissunder1642

distinguish1648

severize1649

unstring1674

skaila1833

cleave1873

dirempt1885

c1330 R. Mannyng Chron. (1810) 320 Fro þe body his heued..did he cleue.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 27743 Man aun wiit it fra him cleuisse.

c1420 [see β. forms]. 1575 [see γ. forms]. 1755 [see δ. forms].

1857–8 E. H. Sears Athanasia ix. 74 To cleave away our effete coverings.

1873 Mrs. Charles in Sunday Mag. June 625 The dreadful chasm cleaving us into separate existence was gone.

3. intransitive (for reflexive). To split or fall asunder.

ΘΚΠ

the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > breaking or cracking > break [verb (intransitive)] > crack, split, or cleave

chinea700

to-chinec725

cleavea1225

to-cleavec1275

rivec1330

to-slentc1380

to-sundera1393

cracka1400

rifta1400

chapc1420

crevec1450

break1486

slave?1523

chink1552

chop1576

coame1577

cone1584

slat1607

cleft1610

splita1625

checka1642

chicka1642

flaw1648

shale1712

vent1721

spalt1731

star1842

seam1880

tetter1911

the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > separation > action of dividing or divided condition > cleaving or splitting > cleave or split [verb (intransitive)]

cleavea1225

acleavea1425

cleft1610

splita1625

a1225 Leg. Kath. 2027 Hit bigon to claterin al & to cleouen.

a1300 Cursor Mundi 24419 Þe stanes claf.

1377 W. Langland Piers Plowman B. xviii. 61 Þe wal wagged and clef.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 6251 Þou sal see it cleue in tua.

c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 82 Clyue, or ryue by the selfe, rimo, risco.

1575 G. Turberville Bk. Faulconrie 302 The beake beginneth to ryue and cliue from hir head.

1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1895) II. 125 Al war lyk to cleiue of lauchter.

1611 Bible (King James) Num. xvi. 31 The ground claue asunder.

a1641 R. Montagu tr. St. Augustine City of God in Acts & Monuments (1642) iii. 220 The vaile of the Temple shall cleave in twaine.

a1727 I. Newton Opticks (1730) iii. i. 329 It cleaves with a glossy polite Surface.

1841 E. W. Lane tr. Thousand & One Nights I. 99 He struck the earth with his feet, and it clove asunder, and swallowed him.

4. intransitive. To cleave one's way, penetrate, pass.

ΘΚΠ

society > travel > [verb (intransitive)] > pass straight through or across

cut1551

to cut over1551

cleave1655

the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement over, across, through, or past > [verb (intransitive)] > through > sharply

cut1609

cleave1655

knife1920

1655 tr. C. Sorel Comical Hist. Francion x. 18 Cleaving through the Presse he did approach unto him, [etc.].

a1807 W. Wordsworth Prelude (1959) iii. 88 I clove in pride through the inferior throng Of the plain Burghers.

1834 F. Marryat Peter Simple II. x. 167 As our swift frigate cleaved through the water.

1865 A. C. Swinburne Lament. in Poems & Ballads 74 I have cleft through the sea-straits narrow.

Derivatives

cloved adj. (past tense and participle) ? error for cleved.

ΚΠ

14.. Tundale's Vis. 1200 As he was clofy-d, styll he stod.

1490 W. Caxton tr. Foure Sonnes of Aymon (1885) ii. 61 He cloued hym to the teeth.

This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1889; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

cleavev.²

Brit.

/kliːv/, U.S.

/kliv/

Inflections: Past tense cleaved, clave; Past participle cleaved;

Forms: 1. Present stem.

α. Old English clífan, Old English clifian, Middle English clyuy, Middle English–1500s cliue, Middle English–1500s cliuen, Middle English–1500s clyue, Middle English–1500s clyuen, 1500s clive /klɪv/. a1000 in Thorpe Hom. II. 530 (Bosw.) Ðin tunge clifað to ðinum gomum.a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 372 And erðe freten wile he mai liuen, And atter [shall] on is tunge cliuen.c1380 Sir Ferumbras (1879) l. 1901 Þat al þy breyn scholde clyue al aboute ys fuste.1561 J. Hollybush tr. H. Brunschwig Most Excellent Homish Apothecarye f. 30^v Festened or clyved upon the belly.1563 T. Gale Certaine Wks. Chirurg. iv. ii. f. 7^v They wyll..cliue to the handes.

β. Old English cleofian, Old English cliofian, Middle English cleeue, Middle English clefe, Middle English cleouien, Middle English cleuien, Middle English cleuy, Middle English cleve, Middle English–1500s cleue, Middle English–1500s cleuen, 1500s cleeve. OE Whale 73 Þonne se fæcna in þam fæstenne gebroht hafað, bealwes cræftig, æt þam edwylme þa þe him on cleofiað, gyltum gehrodene, ond ær georne his in hira lifdagum larum hyrdon.c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 981 Þe nome..a summe stude cleouied [read cleouieð] faste.c1450 in T. Wright & R. P. Wülcker Anglo-Saxon & Old Eng. Vocab. (1884) I. 562 Adhereo, to cleuy to.1483 Cath. Angl. 67 Cleve to, herere.1552 Abp. J. Hamilton Catech. i. iii. f. 11^v Cleiue to him.1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 699 To cleue to King Henry.a1600 Chester Pl. (1843–7) 214 To them..Which cleeve to me allwaie.

γ. 1500s– cleaue, 1500s– cleave. 1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 486/2 My shyrte cleaveth to my backe.1561 T. Norton tr. J. Calvin Inst. Christian Relig. iii. f. 211 The water stil cleaueth vpon them. 1581 [see sense 2]. 1635 [see sense 4].

2. Past tense.

α. Old English cleofede, Old English clifede, Old English cliofede, Middle English clivede, Middle English–1500s clevede, 1500s– cleaved. c1000 West Saxon Gospels: Luke (Corpus Cambr.) x. 11 Þæt dust þæt of eowre ceastre on urum fotum clifode [1140 clyofede, 1160 clefede]. ▸ c1300 Havelok (Laud) (1868) 1300 Al that euere in Denemark liueden On mine armes faste clyueden.a1425 (c1395) Bible (Wycliffite, L.V.) (Royal) (1850) Luke x. 11 The poudir that cleued [1382 cleuyde] to vs. 1480 [see sense 1]. 1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 533 He..cleued to the Frenche king. 1763 [see sense 4]. 1855 Ld. Tennyson Maud xxvi. iii, in Maud & Other Poems 98 I cleaved to a cause that I felt to be pure and true.

β. 1600s cleft. ?1611 G. Chapman tr. Homer Iliads xvii. 359 The foes cleft one to other.a1626 L. Andrewes Serm. (1641) The core of corruption that cleft to our nature and to us.

γ. Middle English claf, Middle English claif, Middle English–1600s claue, 1600s– clave /kleɪv/. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 20954 A gast..þat in a maiden bodi claue [Gött. claif, Trin. Cambr. clof].a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 20745 His hend claf [Gött. clef, Fairf. cleued] to þat ber fast.1611 Bible (King James) Ruth i. 14 Ruth claue vnto her.1867 E. A. Freeman Hist. Norman Conquest I. ii. 62 Many of the Danes..clave to their ancient worship.1887 H. Caine Son of Hagar II. ii. xiii. 43 His tongue clave to his mouth.

δ. Middle English clef.

ε. Middle English clof, 1600s–1800s clove. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Trin. Cambr.) l. 20954 Þat in a maydenes body clof.a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 20745 His hend clef to þe bere fast.1692 J. Washington tr. J. Milton Def. People Eng. Pref. p. xi You say, their tongues clove to the roof of their mouths..I wish they had clove there to this day.1885 E. Arnold Secret of Death 10 Bethink How those of old, the saints, clove to their word.

3. Past participle.

α. Old English cleofod, Old English clifod, Middle English–1500s cleued, 1500s clyued, 1500s–1800s cleaved. c1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 73 Als hit cleued were.1535 Bible (Coverdale) Job xxxi. 5 Yf I haue cleued vnto vanitie.1837 J. J. Blunt Plain Serm. (1861) 3rd Ser. 256 That the Formularies of the Church..should be cleaved unto.

β. Middle English ycliue. a1325 Maudelain 323 in Horstm. Altengl. Leg. (1878) 166 So michel pain is in hir ycliue, Ȝete ich wene wele þat sche liue.

γ. 1600s cleft. 1652 R. Brome Joviall Crew iii. sig. I3 Unlesse..you have, at least, cleft or slept together.

δ. 1600s clave, 1600s clove. 1642 D. Rogers Naaman 16 Had they clave to their duty. 1692 [see ε. forms].

Etymology: Old English had two verbs; clífan strong (*cláf , plural clifon , clifen ), and clifian , cleofian weak (clifode , -od ). (1) The former was a Common Germanic strong verb, in Old Saxon biklîƀan to adhere (Middle Dutch clîƀan to cling, climb, Dutch beklijven to adhere, stick), Old High German chlîban (Middle High German rare, klîban ) to adhere, stick, Old Norse klîfa to clamber, climb by clinging < Old Germanic *klîƀ-an , perhaps ultimately < simpler root kli- to stick: compare climb v., clay n., clam v.¹ Of this strong verb Old English shows only a few examples of the present, its place being generally taken by (2) the derivative clifian , corresponding to Old Saxon cliƀon (Middle Dutch clēven , Dutch kleven ), Old High German chlebên (Middle High German and German kleben ) < Old Germanic *kliƀôjan , < weak stem kliƀ- of the strong verb This had in Old English the variants cliofian , cleofian (with o or u fracture of i ; compare lifian , leofian , to live, Scots leeve ), whence in Middle English clive , and clēve , cleeve ; the latter finally prevailed, and is now written cleave . Instead of the normal past tense and participle clived , cleved , we find also from 14th cent. clave , occasionally clef , clof , clove , and in 17th cent. cleft ; in the participle clave , clove , and cleft . At present cleave , cleaved , is the ordinary inflection, but the influence of the Bible of 1611, in which clave is frequent (beside, and in the same sense as, cleaved ), has made that an admissible form: clove , cleft are now left to cleave v.¹The final predominance of cleve rather than clive as the Middle English form made the present stem identical in form with that of cleave v.¹ to split. Hence their inflectional forms were naturally also confused, and to some extent blended or used indiscriminately. The past tense clave attached itself in the 14th cent. to both; in this verb it corresponds to the original strong past tense *cláf , but does not appear to be continuous with it; it was probably a new form due to analogy: see note to cleave v.¹ The occasional past tense clef belongs properly to cleave v.¹; as perhaps also clof , clove . (The occasionally past participles clave , clove , are from the past tense) The weak inflection cleaved is of course proper to this verb, and probably was transferred hence to cleave v.¹ The shortened cleft found in both, appears to be due to the analogy of leave, left, bereave, -reft. To the same analogy is probably due the modern spelling cleave in both verbs: this is not etymological, for both words had close e in Middle English, and would properly now be cleeve or clieve.

Signification.

1. To stick fast or adhere, as by a glutinous surface, to (†on, upon, in). (The perfect tenses were formerly formed with be.)

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > fact or action of being joined or joining > attachment > be or become attached or affixed [verb (intransitive)] > remain attached > adhere

cleavec897

to stick (cleave, cling, etc.) like a burc1330

sita1398

clinga1400

clengec1400

engleim?1440

adhere1557

clag1563

clasp1569

clencha1600

clung1601

clam1610

yclingec1620

affix1695

clinch1793

to stick (to one) like wax1809

cleam-

c897 K. Ælfred tr. Gregory Pastoral Care xlvii. 361 His flæsces lima clifað ælc on oðrum.

c1000 Ælfric Leviticus i. 8 Ealle þa þing þe to þære lifre clifiaþ.

c1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 73 Cleued bi mi tunge to mine cheken gif ich forgete þe ierusalem.

a1300 Fragm. Pop. Sc. (Wright) 229 Ren-forst..cleveth in hegges al aboute.

c1430 Cookery Bk. 21 Ȝif it cleuey, let it boyle.

1480 W. Caxton Chron. Eng. cci. 182 A drope of drye blode..cleued on his hond.

1535 Bible (Coverdale) Job xxix. 10 Their tonges cleued [1611 cleaued] to the rofe of their mouthes.

1561 J. Hollybush tr. H. Brunschwig Most Excellent Homish Apothecarye f. 30^v A pece of papir, the bignes of a groate, festened or clyued vpon the belly.

1592 Greenes Groats-worth of Witte sig. F^v Vnto none of you..sought those burres to cleaue.

1626 F. Bacon Sylua Syluarum §293 Water in small quantity cleaveth to any thing that is solid.

1867 M. E. Herbert Cradle Lands vi. 155 Huge masses of masonry, which seem to cleave to the bare rock.

2. figurative. (Formerly said of attributes or adjuncts).

ΚΠ

c888 Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. xvi. §3 Nu hi [wealth & power] willaþ clifian [v.r. cliofian] on þæm wyrstan monnum.

1377 W. Langland Piers Plowman B. xvii. 329 For kynde cleueth [v.r. clyueþ] on hym euere to contrarie þe soule.

c1400 (?c1380) Pearl l. 1195 Bot ay wolde man of happe more hente Þen moȝten by ryȝt vpon hem clyuen.

1493 Chastysing Goddes Chyldern (de Worde) xxv. sig. Fv/2 The rote of his olde sinne cleuyth: alway vpon hym.

1581 R. Goade in Confer. (1584) ii. sig. L iiij It is no righteousnes cleauing in vs but in Christ.

1597 R. Hooker Of Lawes Eccl. Politie v. lxix. 191 The very opportunities which we ascribe to time..cleaue to the things themselues wherwith time is ioined.

1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 68. ¶2 The Pains and Anguish which naturally cleave to our Existence in this World.

1790 W. Paley Horæ Paulinæ (1849) 396 A peculiar word or phrase cleaving, as it were, to the memory.

1859 Ld. Tennyson Lancelot & Elaine 37 in Idylls of King A horror lived about the tarn, and clave Like its own mists to all the mountain side.

3. In wider sense: To cling or hold fast to; to attach oneself (by grasping, etc.) to (†on, upon, in).

ΘΚΠ

cleavec1300

grapple1563

to catch on1868

c1300 [see α. forms].

a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Song of Sol. viii. 5 What is she this..faste cleuende vpon [v.r. to] hir leef? [L. innixa super dilectum suum.]

1481 W. Caxton tr. Myrrour of Worlde ii. vi. 76 Yf the culeuure clyue & be on tholyfaunt.

1577 B. Googe tr. C. Heresbach Foure Bks. Husbandry iv. f. 185 The little Worme..cleauing so to the Coame, as he seemeth to be tyed.

4. To adhere or cling to (a person, party, principle, practice, etc.); to remain attached, devoted, or faithful to. (= adhere v. 1, 3.)

ΘΚΠ

the mind > will > decision > constancy or steadfastness > be constant or steadfast [verb (intransitive)] > adhere or cling to something

cleavec1330

hangc1330

adherec1550

c1330 R. Mannyng Chron. (1810) 211 I trow on him gan cleue many riche present.

1377 W. Langland Piers Plowman B. xi. 219 I conseille alle crystene cleue [v.r. clyue] nouȝte þer-on to sore.

c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Eph. v. 31 He schal clyue to his wyf.

1480 W. Caxton Chron. Eng. ccxxvi. 233 In this tyme Englysshmen moche haunted and cleued to the wodenes and folye of the straungers.

1534 Bible (Tyndale rev. Joye) Rom. xii. 9 Cleave [other 16th c. vv. cleaue] vnto that which is good.

?1567 M. Parker Whole Psalter cix. 323 O helpe me Lorde..to thee alone I clyve.

1635 J. Swan Speculum Mundi iii. §2. 54 To leave the literall sense..and to cleave unto Allegories.

1763 J. Wesley Wks. (1872) III. 140 My natural will ever cleaved to evil.

1777 E. Burke Addr. to King Jan. in Writings & Speeches (1996) III. 282 We exhort you..to cleave for ever to those principles.

1876 E. A. Freeman Hist. Norman Conquest V. xxiii. 171 The mercenary soldiers..clave to King Henry.

†5. To remain steadfast, stand fast, abide, continue. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > time > duration > have duration [verb (intransitive)] > endure, remain, persist, or continue

bidec893

lastOE

through-wonOE

ylasta1000

standOE

runOE

lastlOE

beleavec1200

abidec1275

cleavec1275

durec1275

dwell13..

endurec1386

perseverec1390

continuec1400

contunec1400

tarrya1450

remainc1455

perdure?a1475

rest1474

permanec1485

succeed1486

perpetuate1530

persist1531

demur1547

perduratea1558

weara1568

to hold it out1585

to hold out1585

abye1590

contain1592

live1592

perennate1623

to draw overa1700

exist1754

linger1764

to hang it out1939

the mind > will > decision > constancy or steadfastness > be constant or steadfast [verb (intransitive)]

standeOE

cleavec1275

to stand stiffa1290

stick1447

to stand or stick to one's tackling1529

to stand in this1538

to set down (the or one's) staff1584

to stand one's ground1600

to stand to one's pan pudding1647

to maintain one's ground1736

to nail one's colours (also flag) to the mast (also masthead)1808

to stay put1843

to stand firm1856

to sit tight1890

to keep the flag flying1914

to dig in one's toes1933

to hold the line1956

c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 4682 For nis nauere nan oðer gomen þat cleouieð alswa ueste.

a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 2384 Al egipte in his wil cliueð.

1340 Ayenbite (1866) 54 Þise sceles byeþ zuo cleuiinde þet þe wyseste and þe holyiste man byeþ oþerhuyl becaȝt.

1593 R. Hooker Of Lawes Eccl. Politie iv. xi. 192 The Apostles did..conforme the Christians..and..make them cleaue the better.

6. transitive. To attach to. archaic. rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > existence and causation > existence > extrinsicality or externality > externalize [verb (transitive)] > attach to as something extrinsic

to grow to1390

annex1395

to wait on or upon ——1579

waita1674

subfix1684

accrete1712

cleave1958

the mind > emotion > love > affection > [verb (transitive)] > join in sympathy or affection

couple1362

attach1621

wedge1629

bond1965

cleave1979

1958 T. H. White Once & Future King iii. xxviii. 460 He didna cleave importance tae it, but told the people for its worth.

1979 A. Fraser King Charles II ii. vii. 98 The real theme of the coronation—to cleave the Scottish people to their young King.

This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1889; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

n.¹1577

n.²1874

v.¹a1100

v.²c888

单词	cleave
释义	cleaven.¹ Forms: Also 1500s cleefe. Etymology: < Irish cliabh basket, cage, chest. Irish English. A basket. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > equipment > receptacle or container > basket > [noun] teanela700 windlec725 spertc975 kipec1000 leapc1000 willyc1000 basketa1300 coopa1300 hoppera1300 ripc1300 skepc1340 coffinc1380 criba1387 skippetc1450 corfc1483 wisket1542 prickle1543 cleave1577 serpet1615 wicker1646 bascaud1647 shapeta1657 fender1682 canister1697 kist1724 calathus1753 voider1788 wick1802 skip1816 maeshie1822 1577 R. Stanyhurst Hist. Irelande iii. 102/1 in R. Holinshed Chron. I [He] wrapt the yong pacient as tenderly as he could, and had him conueyed in a cleefe with all speede to Ophaly. 1882 Standard 8 Dec. 3/4 The body..was placed in a cleave, or basket used for carrying turf. 1886 J. H. Tuke Rep. Distrib. Seed Potato Fund Hugh C—..has only two or three ‘cleaves’ of potatoes in the world. Derivatives cleaveful n. ΚΠ 1800 M. Edgeworth Castle Rackrent 99 A couple of cleavesfull of the sods of his farm. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1889; most recently modified version published online December 2020). cleaven.² Brit. /kliːv/, U.S. /kliv/ Etymology: < cleave v.¹ A cleft. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > separation > action of dividing or divided condition > cleaving or splitting > [noun] > a division formed by cleaving cleftc1374 cleavingc1400 scissure?a1425 clefture1540 hag1568 scission1578 clovec1593 split1598 cliff1605 fissure1609 dispartment1672 cleave1874 split1875 1874 G. M. Hopkins Note-bks. & Papers (1937) 204 Chudleigh Rocks..are a cliff over a deep and beautiful cleave. c1881 G. M. Hopkins Serm. (1959) ii. iii. 154 In that ‘cleave’ of being which each of his creatures shews to God's eyes alone. c1881 G. M. Hopkins Serm. (1959) 328 Like so many ‘cleaves’ or exposed faces of some pomegranates..cut in all directions across. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1972; most recently modified version published online March 2022). cleavev.¹ Brit. /kliːv/, U.S. /kliv/ Inflections: Past tense clove, clave, cleaved, cleft; Past participle cloven, clove, cleaved, cleft; Forms: 1. Present stem. α. Old English cléofan, Middle English clefe, Middle English cleoven, Middle English clewe, Middle English–1500s cleeue, Middle English–1600s cleue, Middle English–1600s cleve. a1000 Gloss. Prudent. (Record) 150 (Bosw.) Cleofan, scindere.c1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 61 He wile smite..mid egge and cleuen.c1300 K. Alis. 7702 Many an hed wolde Y cleove.1340 R. Rolle Pricke of Conscience 6736 Þair hertes sal nere clewe [v.r. clefe].1483 Cath. Angl. 67 To cleve, scindere.1578 H. Lyte tr. R. Dodoens Niewe Herball vi. lxxxii. 762 Which will soone riue, or cleeue asunder.1727 R. Bradley Chomel's Dictionaire Oeconomique (Dublin ed.) at Hoof hurt The horn doth crack and cleve. β. 1500s– cleaue, 1500s– cleave. 1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 486/2 I cleave a sonder.1558 W. Ward tr. G. Ruscelli Secretes Alexis of Piemount f. 112^v It cleaveth soonest by the fyre.1610 W. Folkingham Feudigraphia i. viii. 17 That Earth, that..doth clift and cleaue.1697 K. Chetwood Pref. to Pastorals in J. Dryden tr. Virgil Wks. sig. *2 The homely Employment of cleaving Blocks. γ. Middle English clyuyn, Middle English–1500s clyue, Middle English–1500s clyve, 1500s clyffe, 1500s–1600s cliue, 1500s–1600s clive*. c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum* 82 Clyvyn or Parte a-sundyr a[s] men doone woode, findo.1558 T. Phaer tr. Virgil Æneid (1573) v. sig. N.iiij Along by heauen his arow driues..therwith the skies he cliues.1570 P. Levens Manipulus Vocabulorum sig. Ki^v/2 To Clyffe, scindere.1575 G. Gascoigne Noble Arte Venerie xliii. 135 Clyue the sydes one from another.1651 Raleigh's Appar. 90 To cliue and pierce the air.1686 Wilding in C. R. L. Fletcher Collectanea (1885) I. 264 For Wood & cliving it..4s. 10d. 2. Past tense. α. (a) singular Old English cléaf, Middle English clæf, Middle English cleef, Middle English clef, Middle English clefe, Middle English cleve; (b) plural Middle English clef (rare). c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 10673 He..enne cniht atwa clæf [c1300 Otho al to-cleof].a1300 Fall & Pass. 70 in Early Eng. Poems & Lives Saints (1862) 14 Hi..clef is swet hert atwo.c1330 R. Mannyng Chron. (1810) 326 Þe walle þorghout þei clef.c1400 Mandeville's Trav. viii. 86 The Roche cleef in two.c1440 Generydes 3035 He cleue a ij his hede.c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 7318 He clefe hym to þe coler. β. (a) plural Old English clufon, Middle English clowen, Middle English cluuen, Middle English– cloue, Middle English– clove; (b) singular Middle English clofe, Middle English clowe, Middle English–1600s cloue, Middle English– clove /kləʊv/, 1500s cloaue. 937 Batt. Brunanb. in Anglo-Saxon Chron. Bordweal clufan afaran Eadweardes.c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 961 His ban to-cluuen.c1300 K. Alis. 2765 This Thebes seyghen how men heom clowen.a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 7810 His herte in tua i wat i clowe [Vesp. claif, Fairf. claue, Trin. Cambr. cleef].c1430 Syr Gener. (Roxb.) 5169 Clofe the heid in twoo.1490 W. Caxton tr. Eneydos li. 144 Eneas..cloue hym vnto the teeth.1535 Bible (Coverdale) Psalms lxxviii. 15 He cloaue the hard rockes.1608 W. Shakespeare King Lear iv. 155 When thou clouest thy crowne it'h middle.1702 N. Rowe Tamerlane v. i. 2203 I clove the Villain down.1883 Longman's Mag. July 286 Into..the crowd porters clove their way with shouts. γ. Middle English claf, Middle English clafe, Middle English claffe, Middle English–1500s claif, Middle English–1500s claiff, Middle English–1600s claue, 1500s– clave /kleɪv/. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 6262 It claue [Gött. clef, Trin. Cambr. cleef, Fairf. cleue], and gaue þam redi gat.c1430 Syr Gener. (Roxb.) 4752 He clafe his shelde in twoo.1470–85 T. Malory Morte d'Arthur (1889) xviii. i. 689 He claf his helme.1485 W. Caxton tr. Thystorye & Lyf Charles the Grete sig. i.j/2 The stroke..claffe a marble stone.1489 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (Adv.) v. 633 He ye hede till ye harnys claiff [1487 St. John's Cambr. clafe].a1533 Ld. Berners tr. Arthur of Brytayn (?1560) lxx. sig. Kiiii He claue him to the sholders.1535 W. Stewart tr. H. Boethius Bk. Cron. Scotl. (1858) II. 599 Richt to the schulderis doun he claif his heid.1563 2nd Tome Homelyes Death & Pass. Christ ii, in J. Griffiths Two Bks. Homilies (1859) ii. 422 The stones clave a sunder.1611 Bible (King James) Psalms lxxviii. 15 Hee claue the rockes in the wildernes.1755 J. Wesley Wks. (1872) II. 331 The earth also clave asunder.1885 Bible (R.V.) Psalms lxxviii. 13 He clave the sea. δ. Middle English cleued, Middle English cleuede, Middle English cleufit, Middle English cleved, Middle English clevede, Middle English clevyd, Middle English clewed, 1700s–1800s cleaved /kliːvd/. c1300 K. Alis. 2340 A fayr baroun, He cleved to the breste adoun.c1300 K. Alis. 3790 He clewyd his scheld.a1440 Sir Eglam. 746 He clevyd hym by the rugge-bone.c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 4034 Fflodys..into caues..cleufit the erthe.1764 W. Falconer Shipwreck (new ed.) i. 37 She cleav'd the main.1853 E. K. Kane U.S. Grinnell Exped. xlvii. 444 The wild fowl..cleaved the misty atmosphere. ε. 1500s– cleft /klɛft/. ?a1500 Chester Pl. (1847) ii. 70 The roccke that never before clyfte Clave that men mighte knowe.1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene i. ii. sig. B5^v It..cleft his head.1671 J. Milton Paradise Regain'd iii. 437 As the Red Sea and Jordan once he cleft.1752 E. Young Brothers i. i I cleft yon Alpine rocks.a1839 W. M. Praed Poems (1864) II. 406 She cleft it with her lover's brand. 3. Past participle. α. Old English–Middle English clofen, Middle English–1600s clouen, Middle English– cloven /ˈkləʊv(ə)n/. c910 Charter Eadweard in Cod. Dipl. V. 179 Ofær ea on clofenan hlinc.c1330 R. Mannyng Chron. Wace (Rolls) 4420 Lite failled þat he ne had Clouen þe hed.a1475 Liber Cocorum (Sloane) (1862) 18 When þou hase..Clovyn hom.1577 B. Googe tr. C. Heresbach Foure Bks. Husbandry ii. f. 55 The stalke being tenderly clouen.1761 D. Hume Hist. Eng. I. viii. 182 Having cloven his head with many blows.1860 J. Tyndall Glaciers of Alps i. §1. 1 Cloven into thin plates. β. Middle English clove, Middle English yclove, 1700s– clove /kləʊv/ (poetic). 1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (1724) 49 To haue y cloue hym al þat hed.c1385 G. Chaucer Legend Good Women Tisbe. 738 This wal..Was cloue a two.c1420 Chron. Vilod. 1033 Þe armes..from hurr' body y clove so was.1721 E. Young Revenge v. ii Till I had clove thy crest.1803 H. K. White Gondoline in Clifton Grove 60 His head, half clove in two. γ. Middle English cleued, 1600s– cleaved /kliːvd/. Always used in Mineralogy and Geology.c1400 St. Alexius (Laud 622) Whan þe whal was to~cleued.?a1475 (?a1425) tr. R. Higden Polychron. (Harl. 2261) (1865) I. 353 A rodde, cleuede in the hier parte of it.1694 J. Narborough Acct. Several Late Voy. (1711) i. 51 Cleaved in his Quarters.1818 W. Phillips Outl. Mineral. & Geol. (ed. 3) 16 The topaz can only be readily cleaved in one direction.1830 A. W. Fonblanque Eng. under Seven Admin. (1837) II. 35 A force that would have cleaved an elephant in twain. δ. Middle English– cleft. ▸ c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Matt. xxvii. 51 Stoonys ben cleft [c1400 Adv. clouen; a1425 L.V. weren cloue].1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomew de Glanville De Proprietatibus Rerum (1495) v. lx. 176 The synewe whyche is slytte and clouen..for yf a veyne be slytte and clefte.1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 486/2 As wodde is clefte.a1616 W. Shakespeare Two Gentlemen of Verona (1623) v. iv. 102 How oft hast thou with periury cleft the roote?1755 J. Wesley Wks. (1872) II. 331 One part of the solid stone is cleft from the rest.a1839 W. M. Praed Poems (1864) I. 352 His steel cap cleft in twain. Origin: A word inherited from Germanic. Etymology: Common Germanic: Old English clíofan, cléofan, past tense cléaf, plural clufon, past participle clofen, corresponding to Old Saxon clioƀan (Middle Dutch clieven, clûven, Dutch klieven), Old High German chlioban (Middle High German, modern German klieben), Old Norse kljúfa (Swedish klyfva, Danish klöve), not recorded in Gothic < Old Germanic type kleuƀ-, klauƀ—kluƀum, kluƀano-, corresponding to pre-Germanic gleubh-, in Greek γλυϕ- ‘to cut with a knife, carve’, and perhaps Latin glūb- ‘to peel, flay’. The early Middle English inflection was cleoven (clēven), clêf (plural cluven), cloven. Assimilation to the past participle soon changed the plural of the past tense to cloven, clove, and by 14th cent. clove was extended to the singular, where clêf, clêve, became obsolete about 1500, making the later inflection clēve, clōve, clōven. The past participle had also the shortened form clove, which survives as a variant in poetry. A past tense clave occurs in northern writers in 14th cent., passed into general use, and was very common down to c1600; it survives as a Bible archaism. A weak inflection cleaved came into use in 14th cent.; and subsequently a form cleft; both are still used, cleft especially in past participle, where it interchanges with cloven, with some differentiation in particular connections, as ‘cleft stick’, ‘cloven foot’: see these words.From the 14th cent. the inflectional forms of this verb have tended to run together with those of cleave v.² ‘to stick’. Though the latter was originally clive , it had also the variants cleove , clēve , the latter of which at length prevailed; the two verbs having thus become identical in the present stem were naturally confused in their other inflections. The (originally northern) past tense clave , which appeared in both in 14th cent., is not normal in either; it was apparently analogical, taken over from one of the other classes of strong verbs having a in the past, as < breke , brak(e , broken , speke , spak(e , spoken . (It would of course be possible to explain the past tense singular clove in the same way.) The weak past tense and past participle cleaved were probably mainly taken over from cleave v.², where they were original; but they might also arise independently in this verb. For the subsequent shortening of cleaved to cleft, there was the obvious precedent of leave, left, bereave, bereft, etc. 1. a. transitive. To part or divide by a cutting blow; to hew asunder; to split. Originally used of parting wood, or the like, ‘along the grain’, i.e. between its parallel fibres; hence, of dividing anything in the direction of its length, height, or depth; also, of dividing slate or crystals along their cleavage planes, and other things at their joints. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > separation > action of dividing or divided condition > cleaving or splitting > cleave or split [verb (transitive)] to-cleavec888 cleavea1100 forcleavec1290 shidec1315 rivec1330 sheara1340 carvec1374 slivea1400 thrusche1483 porfend1490 splet1530 share?1566 spleet1585 splint1591 split1595 diverberate1609 fissure1656 spall1841 balkanize1942 a1100 Gerefa in Anglia (1886) 9 261 In miclum gefyrstum timber cleofan. c1300 Havelok (Laud) (1868) 917 Ful wel kan ich cleuen shides. 1481 W. Caxton tr. Hist. Reynard Fox (1970) 15 A grete oke whiche he had begonne to cleue. 1600 W. Shakespeare Much Ado about Nothing ii. i. 238 She would haue made Hercules..haue cleft his club to make the fire. View more context for this quotation 1611 Bible (King James) Gen. xxii. 3 Abraham..claue the wood for the burnt offering. View more context for this quotation 1680 T. Otway Orphan ii. 16 I..Clove the Rebel to the Chine. 1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics ii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 85 The Dog-star cleaves the thirsty Ground. View more context for this quotation 1722 W. Sewel Hist. Quakers (1795) I. iii. 205 A butcher swore he would cleave her head. 1823 H. J. Brooke Familiar Introd. Crystallogr. 44 If a cube of blende..be cleaved in directions parallel to its diagonal planes. 1872 E. Peacock Mabel Heron iv. 55 The sections into which our society is cleft. b. Often with asunder, in two, etc. to cleave down: to cut down. ΚΠ c1275 [see α. forms]. c1300 K. Alis. 2231 A-two [he] cleued his scheld. c1320 Sir Beues 4514 Man and hors he cleuede doun. c1490 Adam Bel & Clym C. 601 Cloudesly..Claue the wand in to. 1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene i. xi. sig. L4^v The knotty sting Of his huge taile he quite a sonder clefte. a1616 W. Shakespeare Measure for Measure (1623) iii. i. 60 To cleaue a heart in twaine. View more context for this quotation 1785 T. Jefferson Notes Virginia iv. 31 The mountain being cloven asunder. 1855 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. III. 361 He was cloven down while struggling in the press. c. To pierce and penetrate (air, water, etc.). Also to cleave one's way through. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement over, across, through, or past > [verb (transitive)] > through > sharply cleave1558 cuta1571 harrow1582 divide1590 1558 [see γ. forms]. 1651 [see γ. forms]. 1671 J. Milton Paradise Regain'd iii. 435 At their passing cleave the Assyrian flood. View more context for this quotation 1713 A. Pope Windsor-Forest 8 The fierce Eagle cleaves the liquid Sky. 1791 W. Cowper tr. Homer Iliad in Iliad & Odyssey I. ix. 447 Cleaving with my prows The waves of Hellespont. 1827 T. Carlyle Richter in Edinb. Rev. June 188 Whose wailings..have..cleft the general ear. 1852 W. J. Conybeare & J. S. Howson Life & Epist. St. Paul I. ix. 307 The vessel..would soon cleave her way through the strait. 1876 L. Morris Epic of Hades ii. 97 No sunbeam cleaves the twilight. d. To intersect, penetrate, or fissure, in position. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > separation > action of dividing or divided condition > divide [verb (transitive)] > divide by passing across intercut1611 transect1634 cleave1807 1807 J. Barlow Columbiad i. 33 Thine is the stream; it cleaves the well known coast. 1874 H. R. Reynolds John the Baptist iv. 232 Caverns which still cleave the limestone rocks. e. Phrases. †to cleave a hair: cf. ‘to split hairs’. †to cleave the pin: (in archery) to hit the pin in the centre of the white of the butts (see pin n.¹ 2b); hence figurative. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > competitive shooting > archery > practise archery [verb (intransitive)] > hit centre of target to cleave the pin1590 to make a gold1877 1590 C. Marlowe Tamburlaine: 1st Pt. sig. B6 For Kings are clouts that euery man shoots at, Our Crowne the pin that thousands seeke to cleaue. 1597 W. Shakespeare Romeo & Juliet ii. iii. 14 The verie pinne of his heart cleft with the blinde bow-boyes but-shaft. View more context for this quotation a1627 T. Middleton No Wit (1657) ii. 34 I'll cleave the black pin in'th' midst o'th' white. 1655 T. Fuller Church-hist. Brit. iii. 83 To cleave an hair, betwixt the spiritual and temporal jurisdiction. 1655 T. Fuller Church-hist. Brit. ix. 106 M^r. Fox came not up in all particulars to cleave the pin of Conformity (as refusing to subscribe) yet [etc.]. 2. To separate or sever by dividing or splitting. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > separation > separation or detachment > detach [verb (transitive)] > cut off becarveOE carvec1000 hewc1000 shredc1275 cuta1300 chapc1325 cleavec1330 off-shearc1330 withscore1340 to cut offc1380 colea1400 slivea1400 to score awayc1400 abscisea1500 discidea1513 sharea1529 off-trenchc1530 off-hewc1540 pare1549 detrench1553 slice?1560 detrunk1566 sneck1578 resect1579 shred1580 curtail1594 off-chop1594 lop?1602 disbranch1608 abscind1610 snip1611 circumcise1613 desecate1623 discerpa1628 amputate1638 absciss1639 prescind1640 notch1820 the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > separation > separate [verb (transitive)] to-twemec893 sunderOE asunderOE shedOE dealOE shill1049 skillc1175 to-twinc1175 twinc1230 disseverc1250 depart1297 slita1300 to-throwc1315 parta1325 drevec1325 devisec1330 dividec1374 sever1382 unknit?a1425 divorce1430 separea1450 separate?a1475 untine1496 to put apart1530 discussa1542 deceper1547 disseparate1550 apart1563 unjoint1565 shoal1571 divisionatea1586 single1587 dispart1590 descide1598 disassociate1598 distract1600 dissolve1605 discriminate1615 dissociate1623 discerpa1628 discind1640 dissunder1642 distinguish1648 severize1649 unstring1674 skaila1833 cleave1873 dirempt1885 c1330 R. Mannyng Chron. (1810) 320 Fro þe body his heued..did he cleue. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 27743 Man aun wiit it fra him cleuisse. c1420 [see β. forms]. 1575 [see γ. forms]. 1755 [see δ. forms]. 1857–8 E. H. Sears Athanasia ix. 74 To cleave away our effete coverings. 1873 Mrs. Charles in Sunday Mag. June 625 The dreadful chasm cleaving us into separate existence was gone. 3. intransitive (for reflexive). To split or fall asunder. ΘΚΠ the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > breaking or cracking > break [verb (intransitive)] > crack, split, or cleave chinea700 to-chinec725 cleavea1225 to-cleavec1275 rivec1330 to-slentc1380 to-sundera1393 cracka1400 rifta1400 chapc1420 crevec1450 break1486 slave?1523 chink1552 chop1576 coame1577 cone1584 slat1607 cleft1610 splita1625 checka1642 chicka1642 flaw1648 shale1712 vent1721 spalt1731 star1842 seam1880 tetter1911 the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > separation > action of dividing or divided condition > cleaving or splitting > cleave or split [verb (intransitive)] cleavea1225 acleavea1425 cleft1610 splita1625 a1225 Leg. Kath. 2027 Hit bigon to claterin al & to cleouen. a1300 Cursor Mundi 24419 Þe stanes claf. 1377 W. Langland Piers Plowman B. xviii. 61 Þe wal wagged and clef. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 6251 Þou sal see it cleue in tua. c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 82 Clyue, or ryue by the selfe, rimo, risco. 1575 G. Turberville Bk. Faulconrie 302 The beake beginneth to ryue and cliue from hir head. 1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1895) II. 125 Al war lyk to cleiue of lauchter. 1611 Bible (King James) Num. xvi. 31 The ground claue asunder. View more context for this quotation a1641 R. Montagu tr. St. Augustine City of God in Acts & Monuments (1642) iii. 220 The vaile of the Temple shall cleave in twaine. a1727 I. Newton Opticks (1730) iii. i. 329 It cleaves with a glossy polite Surface. 1841 E. W. Lane tr. Thousand & One Nights I. 99 He struck the earth with his feet, and it clove asunder, and swallowed him. 4. intransitive. To cleave one's way, penetrate, pass. ΘΚΠ society > travel > [verb (intransitive)] > pass straight through or across cut1551 to cut over1551 cleave1655 the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement over, across, through, or past > [verb (intransitive)] > through > sharply cut1609 cleave1655 knife1920 1655 tr. C. Sorel Comical Hist. Francion x. 18 Cleaving through the Presse he did approach unto him, [etc.]. a1807 W. Wordsworth Prelude (1959) iii. 88 I clove in pride through the inferior throng Of the plain Burghers. 1834 F. Marryat Peter Simple II. x. 167 As our swift frigate cleaved through the water. 1865 A. C. Swinburne Lament. in Poems & Ballads 74 I have cleft through the sea-straits narrow. Derivatives cloved adj. (past tense and participle) ? error for cleved. ΚΠ 14.. Tundale's Vis. 1200 As he was clofy-d, styll he stod. 1490 W. Caxton tr. Foure Sonnes of Aymon (1885) ii. 61 He cloued hym to the teeth. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1889; most recently modified version published online June 2022). cleavev.² Brit. /kliːv/, U.S. /kliv/ Inflections: Past tense cleaved, clave; Past participle cleaved; Forms: 1. Present stem. α. Old English clífan, Old English clifian, Middle English clyuy, Middle English–1500s cliue, Middle English–1500s cliuen, Middle English–1500s clyue, Middle English–1500s clyuen, 1500s clive /klɪv/. a1000 in Thorpe Hom. II. 530 (Bosw.) Ðin tunge clifað to ðinum gomum.a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 372 And erðe freten wile he mai liuen, And atter [shall] on is tunge cliuen.c1380 Sir Ferumbras (1879) l. 1901 Þat al þy breyn scholde clyue al aboute ys fuste.1561 J. Hollybush tr. H. Brunschwig Most Excellent Homish Apothecarye f. 30^v Festened or clyved upon the belly.1563 T. Gale Certaine Wks. Chirurg. iv. ii. f. 7^v They wyll..cliue to the handes. β. Old English cleofian, Old English cliofian, Middle English cleeue, Middle English clefe, Middle English cleouien, Middle English cleuien, Middle English cleuy, Middle English cleve, Middle English–1500s cleue, Middle English–1500s cleuen, 1500s cleeve. OE Whale 73 Þonne se fæcna in þam fæstenne gebroht hafað, bealwes cræftig, æt þam edwylme þa þe him on cleofiað, gyltum gehrodene, ond ær georne his in hira lifdagum larum hyrdon.c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 981 Þe nome..a summe stude cleouied [read cleouieð] faste.c1450 in T. Wright & R. P. Wülcker Anglo-Saxon & Old Eng. Vocab. (1884) I. 562 Adhereo, to cleuy to.1483 Cath. Angl. 67 Cleve to, herere.1552 Abp. J. Hamilton Catech. i. iii. f. 11^v Cleiue to him.1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 699 To cleue to King Henry.a1600 Chester Pl. (1843–7) 214 To them..Which cleeve to me allwaie. γ. 1500s– cleaue, 1500s– cleave. 1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 486/2 My shyrte cleaveth to my backe.1561 T. Norton tr. J. Calvin Inst. Christian Relig. iii. f. 211 The water stil cleaueth vpon them. 1581 [see sense 2]. 1635 [see sense 4]. 2. Past tense. α. Old English cleofede, Old English clifede, Old English cliofede, Middle English clivede, Middle English–1500s clevede, 1500s– cleaved. c1000 West Saxon Gospels: Luke (Corpus Cambr.) x. 11 Þæt dust þæt of eowre ceastre on urum fotum clifode [1140 clyofede, 1160 clefede]. ▸ c1300 Havelok (Laud) (1868) 1300 Al that euere in Denemark liueden On mine armes faste clyueden.a1425 (c1395) Bible (Wycliffite, L.V.) (Royal) (1850) Luke x. 11 The poudir that cleued [1382 cleuyde] to vs. 1480 [see sense 1]. 1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 533 He..cleued to the Frenche king. 1763 [see sense 4]. 1855 Ld. Tennyson Maud xxvi. iii, in Maud & Other Poems 98 I cleaved to a cause that I felt to be pure and true. β. 1600s cleft. ?1611 G. Chapman tr. Homer Iliads xvii. 359 The foes cleft one to other.a1626 L. Andrewes Serm. (1641) The core of corruption that cleft to our nature and to us. γ. Middle English claf, Middle English claif, Middle English–1600s claue, 1600s– clave /kleɪv/. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 20954 A gast..þat in a maiden bodi claue [Gött. claif, Trin. Cambr. clof].a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 20745 His hend claf [Gött. clef, Fairf. cleued] to þat ber fast.1611 Bible (King James) Ruth i. 14 Ruth claue vnto her.1867 E. A. Freeman Hist. Norman Conquest I. ii. 62 Many of the Danes..clave to their ancient worship.1887 H. Caine Son of Hagar II. ii. xiii. 43 His tongue clave to his mouth. δ. Middle English clef. ε. Middle English clof, 1600s–1800s clove. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Trin. Cambr.) l. 20954 Þat in a maydenes body clof.a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 20745 His hend clef to þe bere fast.1692 J. Washington tr. J. Milton Def. People Eng. Pref. p. xi You say, their tongues clove to the roof of their mouths..I wish they had clove there to this day.1885 E. Arnold Secret of Death 10 Bethink How those of old, the saints, clove to their word. 3. Past participle. α. Old English cleofod, Old English clifod, Middle English–1500s cleued, 1500s clyued, 1500s–1800s cleaved. c1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 73 Als hit cleued were.1535 Bible (Coverdale) Job xxxi. 5 Yf I haue cleued vnto vanitie.1837 J. J. Blunt Plain Serm. (1861) 3rd Ser. 256 That the Formularies of the Church..should be cleaved unto. β. Middle English ycliue. a1325 Maudelain 323 in Horstm. Altengl. Leg. (1878) 166 So michel pain is in hir ycliue, Ȝete ich wene wele þat sche liue. γ. 1600s cleft. 1652 R. Brome Joviall Crew iii. sig. I3 Unlesse..you have, at least, cleft or slept together. δ. 1600s clave, 1600s clove. 1642 D. Rogers Naaman 16 Had they clave to their duty. 1692 [see ε. forms]. Etymology: Old English had two verbs; clífan strong (cláf , plural clifon* , clifen ), and clifian , cleofian weak (clifode , -od ). (1) The former was a Common Germanic strong verb, in Old Saxon biklîƀan to adhere (Middle Dutch clîƀan to cling, climb, Dutch beklijven to adhere, stick), Old High German chlîban (Middle High German rare, klîban ) to adhere, stick, Old Norse klîfa to clamber, climb by clinging < Old Germanic klîƀ-an , perhaps ultimately < simpler root kli-* to stick: compare climb v., clay n., clam v.¹ Of this strong verb Old English shows only a few examples of the present, its place being generally taken by (2) the derivative clifian , corresponding to Old Saxon cliƀon (Middle Dutch clēven , Dutch kleven ), Old High German chlebên (Middle High German and German kleben ) < Old Germanic kliƀôjan , < weak stem kliƀ-* of the strong verb This had in Old English the variants cliofian , cleofian (with o or u fracture of i ; compare lifian , leofian , to live, Scots leeve ), whence in Middle English clive , and clēve , cleeve ; the latter finally prevailed, and is now written cleave . Instead of the normal past tense and participle clived , cleved , we find also from 14th cent. clave , occasionally clef , clof , clove , and in 17th cent. cleft ; in the participle clave , clove , and cleft . At present cleave , cleaved , is the ordinary inflection, but the influence of the Bible of 1611, in which clave is frequent (beside, and in the same sense as, cleaved ), has made that an admissible form: clove , cleft are now left to cleave v.¹The final predominance of cleve rather than clive as the Middle English form made the present stem identical in form with that of cleave v.¹ to split. Hence their inflectional forms were naturally also confused, and to some extent blended or used indiscriminately. The past tense clave attached itself in the 14th cent. to both; in this verb it corresponds to the original strong past tense cláf , but does not appear to be continuous with it; it was probably a new form due to analogy: see note to cleave v.¹ The occasional past tense clef* belongs properly to cleave v.¹; as perhaps also clof , clove . (The occasionally past participles clave , clove , are from the past tense) The weak inflection cleaved is of course proper to this verb, and probably was transferred hence to cleave v.¹ The shortened cleft found in both, appears to be due to the analogy of leave, left, bereave, -reft. To the same analogy is probably due the modern spelling cleave in both verbs: this is not etymological, for both words had close e in Middle English, and would properly now be cleeve or clieve. Signification. 1. To stick fast or adhere, as by a glutinous surface, to (†on, upon, in). (The perfect tenses were formerly formed with be.) ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > fact or action of being joined or joining > attachment > be or become attached or affixed [verb (intransitive)] > remain attached > adhere cleavec897 to stick (cleave, cling, etc.) like a burc1330 sita1398 clinga1400 clengec1400 engleim?1440 adhere1557 clag1563 clasp1569 clencha1600 clung1601 clam1610 yclingec1620 affix1695 clinch1793 to stick (to one) like wax1809 cleam- c897 K. Ælfred tr. Gregory Pastoral Care xlvii. 361 His flæsces lima clifað ælc on oðrum. c1000 Ælfric Leviticus i. 8 Ealle þa þing þe to þære lifre clifiaþ. c1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 73 Cleued bi mi tunge to mine cheken gif ich forgete þe ierusalem. a1300 Fragm. Pop. Sc. (Wright) 229 Ren-forst..cleveth in hegges al aboute. c1430 Cookery Bk. 21 Ȝif it cleuey, let it boyle. 1480 W. Caxton Chron. Eng. cci. 182 A drope of drye blode..cleued on his hond. 1535 Bible (Coverdale) Job xxix. 10 Their tonges cleued [1611 cleaued] to the rofe of their mouthes. 1561 J. Hollybush tr. H. Brunschwig Most Excellent Homish Apothecarye f. 30^v A pece of papir, the bignes of a groate, festened or clyued vpon the belly. 1592 Greenes Groats-worth of Witte sig. F^v Vnto none of you..sought those burres to cleaue. 1626 F. Bacon Sylua Syluarum §293 Water in small quantity cleaveth to any thing that is solid. 1867 M. E. Herbert Cradle Lands vi. 155 Huge masses of masonry, which seem to cleave to the bare rock. 2. figurative. (Formerly said of attributes or adjuncts). ΚΠ c888 Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. xvi. §3 Nu hi [wealth & power] willaþ clifian [v.r. cliofian] on þæm wyrstan monnum. 1377 W. Langland Piers Plowman B. xvii. 329 For kynde cleueth [v.r. clyueþ] on hym euere to contrarie þe soule. c1400 (?c1380) Pearl l. 1195 Bot ay wolde man of happe more hente Þen moȝten by ryȝt vpon hem clyuen. 1493 Chastysing Goddes Chyldern (de Worde) xxv. sig. Fv/2 The rote of his olde sinne cleuyth: alway vpon hym. 1581 R. Goade in Confer. (1584) ii. sig. L iiij It is no righteousnes cleauing in vs but in Christ. 1597 R. Hooker Of Lawes Eccl. Politie v. lxix. 191 The very opportunities which we ascribe to time..cleaue to the things themselues wherwith time is ioined. 1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 68. ¶2 The Pains and Anguish which naturally cleave to our Existence in this World. 1790 W. Paley Horæ Paulinæ (1849) 396 A peculiar word or phrase cleaving, as it were, to the memory. 1859 Ld. Tennyson Lancelot & Elaine 37 in Idylls of King A horror lived about the tarn, and clave Like its own mists to all the mountain side. 3. In wider sense: To cling or hold fast to; to attach oneself (by grasping, etc.) to (†on, upon, in). ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > fact or action of being joined or joining > attachment > be or become attached or affixed [verb (intransitive)] > attach oneself cleavec1300 grapple1563 to catch on1868 c1300 [see α. forms]. a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Song of Sol. viii. 5 What is she this..faste cleuende vpon [v.r. to] hir leef? [L. innixa super dilectum suum.] 1481 W. Caxton tr. Myrrour of Worlde ii. vi. 76 Yf the culeuure clyue & be on tholyfaunt. 1577 B. Googe tr. C. Heresbach Foure Bks. Husbandry iv. f. 185 The little Worme..cleauing so to the Coame, as he seemeth to be tyed. 4. To adhere or cling to (a person, party, principle, practice, etc.); to remain attached, devoted, or faithful to. (= adhere v. 1, 3.) ΘΚΠ the mind > will > decision > constancy or steadfastness > be constant or steadfast [verb (intransitive)] > adhere or cling to something cleavec1330 hangc1330 adherec1550 c1330 R. Mannyng Chron. (1810) 211 I trow on him gan cleue many riche present. 1377 W. Langland Piers Plowman B. xi. 219 I conseille alle crystene cleue [v.r. clyue] nouȝte þer-on to sore. c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Eph. v. 31 He schal clyue to his wyf. 1480 W. Caxton Chron. Eng. ccxxvi. 233 In this tyme Englysshmen moche haunted and cleued to the wodenes and folye of the straungers. 1534 Bible (Tyndale rev. Joye) Rom. xii. 9 Cleave [other 16th c. vv. cleaue] vnto that which is good. ?1567 M. Parker Whole Psalter cix. 323 O helpe me Lorde..to thee alone I clyve. 1635 J. Swan Speculum Mundi iii. §2. 54 To leave the literall sense..and to cleave unto Allegories. 1763 J. Wesley Wks. (1872) III. 140 My natural will ever cleaved to evil. 1777 E. Burke Addr. to King Jan. in Writings & Speeches (1996) III. 282 We exhort you..to cleave for ever to those principles. 1876 E. A. Freeman Hist. Norman Conquest V. xxiii. 171 The mercenary soldiers..clave to King Henry. †5. To remain steadfast, stand fast, abide, continue. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > time > duration > have duration [verb (intransitive)] > endure, remain, persist, or continue bidec893 lastOE through-wonOE ylasta1000 standOE runOE lastlOE beleavec1200 abidec1275 cleavec1275 durec1275 dwell13.. endurec1386 perseverec1390 continuec1400 contunec1400 tarrya1450 remainc1455 perdure?a1475 rest1474 permanec1485 succeed1486 perpetuate1530 persist1531 demur1547 perduratea1558 weara1568 to hold it out1585 to hold out1585 abye1590 contain1592 live1592 perennate1623 to draw overa1700 exist1754 linger1764 to hang it out1939 the mind > will > decision > constancy or steadfastness > be constant or steadfast [verb (intransitive)] standeOE cleavec1275 to stand stiffa1290 stick1447 to stand or stick to one's tackling1529 to stand in this1538 to set down (the or one's) staff1584 to stand one's ground1600 to stand to one's pan pudding1647 to maintain one's ground1736 to nail one's colours (also flag) to the mast (also masthead)1808 to stay put1843 to stand firm1856 to sit tight1890 to keep the flag flying1914 to dig in one's toes1933 to hold the line1956 c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 4682 For nis nauere nan oðer gomen þat cleouieð alswa ueste. a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 2384 Al egipte in his wil cliueð. 1340 Ayenbite (1866) 54 Þise sceles byeþ zuo cleuiinde þet þe wyseste and þe holyiste man byeþ oþerhuyl becaȝt. 1593 R. Hooker Of Lawes Eccl. Politie iv. xi. 192 The Apostles did..conforme the Christians..and..make them cleaue the better. 6. transitive. To attach to. archaic. rare. ΘΚΠ the world > existence and causation > existence > extrinsicality or externality > externalize [verb (transitive)] > attach to as something extrinsic to grow to1390 annex1395 to wait on or upon ——1579 waita1674 subfix1684 accrete1712 cleave1958 the mind > emotion > love > affection > [verb (transitive)] > join in sympathy or affection couple1362 attach1621 wedge1629 bond1965 cleave1979 1958 T. H. White Once & Future King iii. xxviii. 460 He didna cleave importance tae it, but told the people for its worth. 1979 A. Fraser King Charles II ii. vii. 98 The real theme of the coronation—to cleave the Scottish people to their young King. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1889; most recently modified version published online June 2022). < n.¹1577n.²1874v.¹a1100v.²c888
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cleaven.1

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cleaven.2

cleavev.1

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cleavev.2

cleaven.¹

cleaven.²

cleavev.¹

cleavev.²