English Vocabulary (A - D)

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cleave

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English | 2009 | Copyright

cleave¹ / klēv/ • v. (past clove / klōv/ or cleft / kleft/ or cleaved / klēvd/ past part. clo·ven / ˈklōvən/ or cleft or cleaved) [tr.] split or sever (something), esp. along a natural line or grain: the large ax his father used to cleave wood for the fire. ∎ split (a molecule) by breaking a particular chemical bond. ∎ make a way through (something) forcefully, as if by splitting it apart: they watched a coot cleave the smooth water [intr.] an unstoppable warrior clove through their ranks. ∎ [intr.] Biol. (of a cell) divide. DERIVATIVES: cleav·a·ble adj. cleave² • v. [intr.] (cleave to) poetic/lit. stick fast to: Rose's mouth was dry, her tongue cleaving to the roof of her mouth. ∎ adhere strongly to (a particular pursuit or belief): part of why we cleave to sports is that excellence is so measurable. ∎ become very strongly involved with or emotionally attached to (someone): it was his choice to cleave to the Brownings.

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"cleave." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 29 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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"cleave." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 29, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-cleave.html

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cleave

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology | 1996 | | Copyright

cleave 2 stick fast, adhere. The present form repr. OE. cleofian, clifan = OS. cliƀon, OHG. klebēn (G. kleben) :- WGmc. wk. vb. *kliƀōjan, -ǣjan, f. *kliƀ-, the strong form of which is repr. by OE. clīfan = OS. biklīƀan (Du. beklijven), OHG. klīban, ON. klífa; f. Gmc. *klī́- stick, adhere (cf. CLAY, CLIMB). Cleft dates from XVII.

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T. F. HOAD. "cleave." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 29 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

T. F. HOAD. "cleave." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 29, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-cleave1.html

T. F. HOAD. "cleave." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 29, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-cleave1.html

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cleave

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology | 1996 | | Copyright

cleave 1 cut asunder, split. OE. clēofan str. vb. = OS. klioƀan, OHG. kliuban (G. klieben), ON. kljūfa :- Gmc. *kleuƀan, f. IE. base *gleubh- (cf. Gr. glūphein hollow out, L. glūbere peel).
Hence cleaver XVI.

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T. F. HOAD. "cleave." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 29 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

T. F. HOAD. "cleave." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 29, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-cleave.html

T. F. HOAD. "cleave." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 29, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-cleave.html

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cleave

Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes | 2007 | Copyright

cleave •achieve, believe, breve, cleave, conceive, deceive, eve, greave, grieve, heave, interleave, interweave, khedive, leave, misconceive, naive, Neve, peeve, perceive, reave, receive, reive, relieve, reprieve, retrieve, sheave, sleeve, steeve, Steve, Tananarive, Tel Aviv, thieve, underachieve, upheave, weave, we've, Yves •make-believe • shirtsleeve •semibreve • Congreve

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"cleave." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 29 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"cleave." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 29, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-cleave.html

"cleave." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 29, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-cleave.html

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