GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

last match results

Found 3 definitions

1.       
   Cleave , v. i. [imp. Cleaved , Clave (, Obs.); p. p. Cleaved; p. pr. & vb. n. Cleaving.] [OE. cleovien, clivien, cliven, AS. cleofian, clifian; akin to OS. klibōn, G. kleben, LG. kliven, D. kleven, Dan. klæbe, Sw. klibba, and also to G. kleiben to cleve, paste, Icel. klīfa to climb. Cf. Climb.]
   To adhere closely; to stick; to hold fast; to cling.
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   My bones cleave to my skin.
   Ps. cii. 5.
   
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   The diseases of Egypt . . . shall cleave unto thee.
   Deut. xxviii. 60.
   
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   Sophistry cleaves close to and protects
   Sin's rotten trunk, concealing its defects.
   Cowper.
   
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   To unite or be united closely in interest or affection; to adhere with strong attachment.
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   Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife.
   Gen. ii. 24.
   
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   Cleave unto the Lord your God.
   Josh. xxiii. 8.
   
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   To fit; to be adapted; to assimilate. [Poetic.]
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   New honors come upon him,
   Like our strange garments, cleave not to their mold
   But with the aid of use.
   Shak.
   
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2.       
   Cleave , v. t. [imp. Cleft , Clave (, Obs.), Clove (, Obsolescent); p. p. Cleft, Cleaved  or Cloven ; p. pr. & vb. n. Cleaving.] [OE. cleoven, cleven, AS. cleófan; akin to OS. klioban, D. klooven, G. klieben, Icel. kljūfa, Sw. klyfva, Dan. klöve and prob. to Gr. γλύφειν to carve, L. glubere to peel. Cf. Cleft.]
    To part or divide by force; to split or rive; to cut.
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   O Hamlet, thou hast cleft my heart in twain.
   Shak.
   
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   To part or open naturally; to divide.
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   Every beast that parteth the hoof, and cleaveth the cleft into two claws.
   Deut. xiv. 6.
   
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3.       
   Cleave, v. i. To part; to open; to crack; to separate; as parts of bodies; as, the ground cleaves by frost.
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   The Mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst.
   Zech. xiv. 4.
   
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