Antonyms for cleave


Grammar : Verb
Spell : kleev
Phonetic Transcription : kliv


Definition of cleave

Origin :
  • "to split," Old English cleofan, cleven, cliven "to split, separate" (class II strong verb, past tense cleaf, past participle clofen), from Proto-Germanic *kleubanan (cf. Old Saxon klioban, Old Norse kljufa, Danish klöve, Dutch kloven, Old High German klioban, German klieben "to cleave, split"), from PIE root *gleubh- "to cut, slice" (see glyph).
  • Past tense form clave is recorded in Northern writers from 14c. and was used with both verbs (see cleave (v.2)), apparently by analogy with other Middle English strong verbs. Clave was common to c.1600 and still alive at the time of the KJV; weak past tense cleaved for this verb also emerged in 14c.; cleft is still later. The past participle cloven survives, though mostly in compounds.
  • verb divide, split
  • verb stand by, stick together
Example sentences :
  • If you are true, but not in the same truth with me, cleave to your companions; I will seek my own.
  • Extract from : « Essays, First Series » by Ralph Waldo Emerson
  • Born and bred to the sea I was, and to the sea I will cleave.
  • Extract from : « In the Days of Drake » by J. S. Fletcher
  • "I believe the Bible says to leave all and cleave unto your wife," returned Garrison.
  • Extract from : « Garrison's Finish » by W. B. M. Ferguson
  • Does not the Bible say, 'You must leave father and mother, and cleave to me'?
  • Extract from : « The Best Short Stories of 1920 » by Various
  • Cleave made a slight gesture, sullen, weary, and determined.
  • Extract from : « The Long Roll » by Mary Johnston
  • Cleave returned to Tullius and the small fire by the pawpaw bushes.
  • Extract from : « The Long Roll » by Mary Johnston
  • Cleave dismounted, and came, hat in hand, to the coach window.
  • Extract from : « The Long Roll » by Mary Johnston
  • It was only Cleave's patient insistence that had procured them at last.
  • Extract from : « The Long Roll » by Mary Johnston
  • But Cleave's company, by virtue of Cleave himself, was fairly equipped.
  • Extract from : « The Long Roll » by Mary Johnston
  • There was a moment's silence, deep, breathless, then Cleave spoke.
  • Extract from : « The Long Roll » by Mary Johnston

Synonyms for cleave

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019