cloven

[ kloh-vuh n ]
/ ˈkloʊ vən /

verb

a past participle of cleave2

adjective

cleft; split; divided: Goats have cloven hoofs.

OTHER WORDS FROM cloven

un·clo·ven, adjective

Definition for cloven (2 of 3)

cleave 1
[ kleev ]
/ kliv /

verb (used without object), cleaved or (Archaic) clave; cleaved; cleav·ing.

to adhere closely; stick; cling (usually followed by to).
to remain faithful (usually followed by to): to cleave to one's principles in spite of persecution.

Origin of cleave

1
before 900; Middle English cleven, Old English cleofian, cognate with Old High German klebēn (German kleben)

OTHER WORDS FROM cleave

cleav·ing·ly, adverb

Definition for cloven (3 of 3)

cleave 2
[ kleev ]
/ kliv /

verb (used with object), cleft or cleaved or clove, cleft or cleaved or clo·ven, cleav·ing.

to split or divide by or as if by a cutting blow, especially along a natural line of division, as the grain of wood.
to make by or as if by cutting: to cleave a path through the wilderness.
to penetrate or pass through (air, water, etc.): The bow of the boat cleaved the water cleanly.
to cut off; sever: to cleave a branch from a tree.

verb (used without object), cleft or cleaved or clove, cleft or cleaved or clo·ven, cleav·ing.

to part or split, especially along a natural line of division.
to penetrate or advance by or as if by cutting (usually followed by through).

Origin of cleave

2
before 950; Middle English cleven, Old English clēofan, cognate with Old High German klioban (German klieben), Old Norse kljūfa; akin to Greek glýphein to carve, Latin glūbere to peel

Example sentences from the Web for cloven

British Dictionary definitions for cloven (1 of 3)

cloven
/ (ˈkləʊvən) /

verb

a past participle of cleave 1

adjective

split; cleft; divided

British Dictionary definitions for cloven (2 of 3)

cleave 1
/ (kliːv) /

verb cleaves, cleaving, cleft, cleaved, clove, cleft, cleaved or cloven

to split or cause to split, esp along a natural weakness
(tr) to make by or as if by cutting to cleave a path
(when intr, foll by through) to penetrate or traverse

Derived forms of cleave

cleavable, adjective cleavability, noun

Word Origin for cleave

Old English clēofan; related to Old Norse kljūfa, Old High German klioban, Latin glūbere to peel

British Dictionary definitions for cloven (3 of 3)

cleave 2
/ (kliːv) /

verb

(intr foll by to) to cling or adhere

Word Origin for cleave

Old English cleofian; related to Old High German klebēn to stick