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, adjectiveWords nearby cloven
clove,
clove hitch,
clove oil,
clove pink,
clovelly,
cloven,
cloven hoof,
cloven-hoofed,
clover,
cloverleaf,
cloverleaf aerial
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, adverbDefinition 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)
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, nounWord 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