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verb (used without object), cleaved or (Archaic) clave; cleaved; cleav·ing.
1.
to adhere closely; stick; cling (usually followed by to).
2.
to remain faithful (usually followed by to): to cleave to one's principles in spite of persecution.
Origin:
before 900; Middle English cleven, Old English cleofian, cognate with Old High German klebēn (German kleben)
before 900; Middle English cleven, Old English cleofian, cognate with Old High German klebēn (German kleben)
Related forms
cleav·ing·ly, adverb
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Cleaved
is always a great word to know.
So is zedonk. Does it mean:
| the offspring of a zebra and a donkey. |
| a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison. |
Dictionary.com Unabridged
verb (used with object)
1.
to split or divide by or as if by a cutting blow, especially along a natural line of division, as the grain of wood.
2.
to make by or as if by cutting: to cleave a path through the wilderness.
3.
to penetrate or pass through (air, water, etc.): The bow of the boat cleaved the water cleanly.
4.
to cut off; sever: to cleave a branch from a tree.
verb (used without object)
5.
to part or split, especially along a natural line of division.
6.
to penetrate or advance by or as if by cutting (usually followed by through).
Origin:
before 950; Middle English cleven, Old English clēofan, cognate with Old High German klioban (German klieben), Old Norse kljūfa; akin to Greek glýphein to carve, Latin glūbere to peel
before 950; Middle English cleven, Old English clēofan, cognate with Old High German klioban (German klieben), Old Norse kljūfa; akin to Greek glýphein to carve, Latin glūbere to peel
Synonyms
1. halve, rend, rive.
1. halve, rend, rive.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source
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Link To cleaved
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
cleave
"to adhere," O.E. clifian, from W.Gmc. *klibajanan, from PIE *gloi- "to stick." The confusion was less in O.E. when cleave (1) was a class 2 strong verb and cleave (2) a class 1 verb; but it has grown since cleave (1) weakened, which may be why both are largely superseded by stick and split.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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