CLEAVE

I. intransitive verb (~d or clove; also clave; ~d; cleaving) Etymology: Middle English clevien, from Old English clifian; akin to Old High German kleben to stick Date: before 12th century to adhere firmly and closely or loyally and unwaveringly, see: stick II. verb (~d; also cleft or clove; ~d; also cleft or cloven; cleaving) Etymology: Middle English cleven, from Old English clēofan; akin to Old Norse kljūfa to split, Latin glubere to peel, Greek glyphein to carve Date: before 12th century transitive verb to divide by or as if by a cutting blow ; split , to separate into distinct parts and especially into groups having divergent views, to subject to chemical cleavage , intransitive verb to split especially along the grain, to penetrate or pass through something by or as if by cutting, see: tear