Cleave

Cleave (klēv), v. i. [imp. Cleaved (klēvd), Clave (klāv, 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.] 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.

Cleave (klēv), v. t. [imp. Cleft (klĕft), Clave (klāv, Obs.), Clove (klōv, Obsolescent); p. p. Cleft, Cleaved (klēvd) or Cloven (klō′v'n); 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.] 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.

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.