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Messier42 Posted 13 years ago
Vocabulary

Did I use 'cleave' correctly?

The guy cleave the plank.
They cleaved to the anti-democratic idea.
The ship cleaved through the water.
The robbery cleaved through the crowd in the shopping mall, running away from the policeman.
  

Top answer

'Cleave' is not much used nowadays, especially in its physical sense. The guy cut the plank. They cleaved to the anti-democratic idea.

— Mister Micawber

  • 'Cleave' is not much used nowadays, especially in its physical sense.
  • The guy cut the plank.
  • They cleaved to the anti-democratic idea.
  • The ship cleaved the water.
  • The robber cut through the crowd in the shopping mall, running away from the policeman.
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3 Answers
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'Cleave' is not much used nowadays, especially in its physical sense.

The guy cut the plank.
They cleaved to the anti-democratic idea.
The ship cleaved the water.
The robber cut through the crowd in the shopping mall, running away from the policeman.
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Hi

In the UK, it's an interesting word but it is not used. In fact, it has two almost completely different meanings: "to cut" and "to stick to". I'd really not recommend it as a word, but ..

- The guy cleaves the plank
- The guy cleaved the plank
[= he cuts it / he cut it]

- Cleave unto thy testimony, Lord
- They cleaved to the anti-democratic idea
[= s
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In British English, the second form (past simple) of the 'split' version of this verb can be cleaved, cleft or clove. The past participle can be cleaved, cleft or cloven.

Though the verb is rare, we do have cleft stick, cleft lip, cleft palate, cloven hoof.
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