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cleave

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cleave

 

  4  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Cleave  \Cleave\  (kl[=e]v),  v.  t.  [imp.  {Cleft}  (kl[e^]ft), 
  {Clave}  (kl[=a]v,  Obs.),  {Clove}  (kl[=o]v,  Obsolescent);  p. 
  p.  {Cleft},  {Cleaved}  (kl[=e]vd)  or  {Cloven}  (kl[=o]"v'n);  p. 
  pr  &  vb  n.  {Cleaving}.]  [OE.  cleoven,  cleven,  AS 
  cle['o]fan;  akin  to  OS  klioban  D.  klooven  G.  klieben 
  Icel.  klj[=u]fa,  Sw  klyfva  Dan.  kl["o]ve  and  prob.  to  Gr 
  gly`fein  to  carve,  L.  glubere  to  peel.  Cf  {Cleft}.] 
  1.  To  part  or  divide  by  force;  to  split  or  rive;  to  cut. 
 
  O  Hamlet,  thou  hast  cleft  my  heart  in  twain.  --Shak. 
 
  2.  To  part  or  open  naturally;  to  divide. 
 
  Every  beast  that  parteth  the  hoof,  and  cleaveth  the 
  cleft  into  two  claws.  --Deut.  xiv. 
  6. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Cleave  \Cleave\  (kl[=e]v),  v.  i.  [imp.  {Cleaved}  (kl[=e]vd), 
  {Clave}  (kl[=a]v,  Obs.);  p.  p.  {Cleaved};  p.  pr  &  vb  n. 
  {Cleaving}.]  [OE.  cleovien  clivien  cliven,  AS  cleofian 
  clifian  akin  to  OS  klib[=o]n,  G.  kleben  LG  kliven,  D. 
  kleven,  Dan.  kl[ae]be,  Sw  klibba  and  also  to  G.  kleiben  to 
  cleve,  paste,  Icel.  kl[=i]fa  to  climb.  Cf  {Climb}.] 
  1.  To  adhere  closely;  to  stick;  to  hold  fast  to  cling. 
 
  My  bones  cleave  to  my  skin.  --Ps.  cii.  5. 
 
  The  diseases  of  Egypt  .  .  .  shall  cleave  unto  thee. 
  --Deut. 
  xxviii.  60. 
 
  Sophistry  cleaves  close  to  and  protects  Sin's  rotten 
  trunk,  concealing  its  defects.  --Cowper. 
 
  2.  To  unite  or  be  united  closely  in  interest  or  affection;  to 
  adhere  with  strong  attachment. 
 
  Therefore  shall  a  man  leave  his  father  and  his 
  mother,  and  shall  cleave  unto  his  wife.  --Gen.  ii 
  24. 
 
  Cleave  unto  the  Lord  your  God.  --Josh.  xxiii. 
  8. 
 
  3.  To  fit  to  be  adapted;  to  assimilate.  [Poetic.] 
 
  New  honors  come  upon  him  Like  our  strange  garments, 
  cleave  not  to  their  mold  But  with  the  aid  of  use 
  --Shak. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Cleave  \Cleave\,  v.  i. 
  To  part  to  open  to  crack;  to  separate;  as  parts  of  bodies; 
  as  the  ground  cleaves  by  frost. 
 
  The  Mount  of  Olives  shall  cleave  in  the  midst.  --Zech. 
  xiv.  4. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  cleave 
  v  1:  separate  or  cut  with  a  tool,  such  as  a  sharp  instrument; 
  "cleave  the  bone"  [syn:  {split},  {rive}] 
  2:  make  by  cutting  into




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