clave

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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

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. [1913 Webster]

O Hamlet, thou hast cleft my heart in twain.— Shak.[1913 Webster]

2.To part or open naturally; to divide. [1913 Webster]

Every beast that parteth the hoof, and cleaveth the cleft into two claws.— Deut. xiv. 6.[1913 Webster]

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[imac]fa to climb. Cf. Climb.]

1.To adhere closely; to stick; to hold fast; to cling. [1913 Webster]

My bones cleave to my skin.— Ps. cii. 5.[1913 Webster]
The diseases of Egypt . . . shall cleave unto thee.— Deut. xxviii. 60.[1913 Webster]
Sophistry cleaves close to and protects Sin's rotten trunk, concealing its defects.— Cowper.[1913 Webster]

2.To unite or be united closely in interest or affection; to adhere with strong attachment. [1913 Webster]

Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife.— Gen. ii. 24.[1913 Webster]
Cleave unto the Lord your God.— Josh. xxiii. 8.[1913 Webster]

3.To fit; to be adapted; to assimilate. [Poetic.] [1913 Webster]

New honors come upon him, Like our strange garments, cleave not to their mold But with the aid of use.— Shak.[1913 Webster]

Clave \Clave\ (kl[=a]v), imp. of Cleave. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
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