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.
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.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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Cleft \Cleft\, a.
1. Divided; split; partly divided or split.
2. (Bot.) Incised nearly to the midrib; as, a cleft leaf.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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Cleft \Cleft\, n. [OE. clift; cf. Sw. klyft cave, den, Icel.
kluft cleft, Dan. kl["o]ft, G. kluft. See Cleave to split
and cf. 2d Clift, 1st Clough.]
1. A space or opening made by splitting; a crack; a crevice;
as, the cleft of a rock. --Is. ii. 21.
2. A piece made by splitting; as, a cleft of wood.
3. (Far.) A disease in horses; a crack on the band of the
pastern.
Branchial clefts. See under Branchial.
Syn: Crack; crevice; fissure; chink; cranny.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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