English Dictionary: cleave | by the DICT Development Group |
4 results for cleave | |
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]: | |
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From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Cleave \Cleave\ (kl[emac]v), v. t. [imp. {Cleft} (kl[ecr]ft), {Clave} (kl[amac]v, Obs.), {Clove} (kl[omac]v, Obsolescent); p. p. {Cleft}, {Cleaved} (kl[emac]vd) or {Cloven} (kl[omac]"v'n); p. pr. & vb. n. {Cleaving}.] [OE. cleoven, cleven, AS. cle[a2]fan; akin to OS. klioban, D. klooven, G. klieben, Icel. klj[d4]fa, Sw. klyfva, Dan. kl[94]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[emac]v), v. i. [imp. {Cleaved} (kl[emac]vd), {Clave} (kl[amac]v, Obs.); p. p. {Cleaved}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Cleaving}.] [OE. cleovien, clivien, cliven, AS. cleofian, clifian; akin to OS. klib[d3]n, G. kleben, LG. kliven, D. kleven, Dan. kl[91]be, Sw. klibba, and also to G. kleiben to cleve, paste, Icel. kl[c6]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. |