cleven

Middle Dutch

Etymology

From Old Dutch clivon, from Proto-Germanic *klibāną, from Proto-Indo-European *gleybʰ- (“to stick”). Weak forms are probably influenced by Etymology 2.

Verb

clēven

1. to stick, to adhere

Inflection

This verb needs an inflection-table template.

Descendants

• Dutch: kleven
• Limburgish: kleive

Further reading

• “cleven (II)”, in Vroegmiddelnederlands Woordenboek, 2000
• Verwijs, E.; Verdam, J. (1885–1929), “cleven (I)”, in Middelnederlandsch Woordenboek, The Hague: Martinus Nijhoff, →ISBN, page I

Middle English

Etymology 1

From Old English clēofan, from Proto-West Germanic *kleuban, from Proto-Germanic *kleubaną.

Alternative forms

• cleev, cleeve, cleoven, cleve, clyvyn

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈkleːvən/

Verb

cleven

2. To cleave; to split or slice through:
   1. To slice at; to make a slashing blow.
   2. To make a crack, cut or slice in something.
   3. To chop off (separate or sunder).
3. To break into small pieces; to shatter.
4. To open up; to split apart.
5. To ruin or finish (cause something's destruction) .
6. To stab someone mortally (by striking at their heart)

Conjugation

Conjugation of cleven (strong class 2/4 or weak in -te/-ed)

infinitive	(to) cleven, cleve
	present tense	past tense
1st-person singular	cleve	clef, claf, clefte, cleved
2nd-person singular	clevest	clove1, cleftest, clevedest
3rd-person singular	cleveth	clef, claf, clefte, cleved
subjunctive singular	cleve	clove2, clefte2, cleved2
imperative singular		—
plural3	cleven, cleve	cloven, clove, cleften, clefte, cleveden, clevede
imperative plural	cleveth, cleve	—
participles	clevynge, clevende	cloven, clove, cleft, cleved, ycloven, yclove

¹ Later replaced by the 1st-/3rd-person singular or clefest, clafest.
² Later replaced by the indicative.
³ Sometimes used as a formal 2nd-person singular.

Related terms

• clevere
• clevynge
• clove
• cloven

Descendants

• English: cleave
• Scots: cleave

References

• “clẹ̄ven, v.(2).”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-06-8.

Etymology 2

Originally two distinct verbs:

• Old English cleofian, clifian, from Proto-West Germanic *klibēn, from Proto-Germanic *klibāną.
• Old English clīfan, from Proto-West Germanic *klīban, from Proto-Germanic *klībaną.

Alternative forms

• clefian, cleeven, cleve, clevyn, cliven, cliviȝe, clyve, clyven
• cleovien, clevyen (Southern or Southwest Midlands)

Pronunciation

• (from cleofian) IPA^(key): /ˈklɛ̞ːvən/, /ˈklɛvən/
• (from clifian) IPA^(key): /ˈklivən/, /ˈkleːvən/
• (from clīfan) IPA^(key): /ˈkliːvən/

Verb

cleven

2. To stick or adhere (often with on or to):
   1. To have cohesion or unity; to adhere together.
   2. To cling (hold onto something)
      • 1395, Wycliffe Bible, Ruth 1:14:

        Therfor, whanne the vois was reisid, eft thei bigunnen to wepe. Orpha kisside the modir of hir hosebonde, and turnede ayen, and Ruth cleuyde to the modir of hir hosebonde.
        Afterwards, when the voice was raised, they began to weep again. Orpah kissed the mother of her husband, and turned around, and Ruth cleaved to the mother of her husband.

        (please add an English translation of this quotation)

3. To be adhesive or sticky; to cause to adhere.
4. To be an inherent or inseparable part; to be intrinsic.
5. To withstand or stay put; to weather time.
6. To believe in a creed or belief.
7. To trust or follow someone.
8. (rare) To stay balanced or coherent.
9. (rare) To convince; to spread one's beliefs.
10. (rare) To acquire (belongings)

Usage notes

Strong forms of this verb are mostly limited to Northern Middle English.

Conjugation

Conjugation of cleven (weak in -ed or strong class 1)

infinitive	(to) cleven, cleve
	present tense	past tense
1st-person singular	cleve	cleved, clof
2nd-person singular	clevest	clevedest, clove1, clive1
3rd-person singular	cleveth	cleved, clof
subjunctive singular	cleve	cleved2, clove2, clive2
imperative singular		—
plural3	cleven, cleve	cleveden, clevede, cloven, clove, cliven, clive
imperative plural	cleveth, cleve	—
participles	clevynge, clevende	cleved, cliven, clive, ycleved, ycliven

¹ Later replaced by the 1st-/3rd-person singular or clofest.
² Later replaced by the indicative.
³ Sometimes used as a formal 2nd-person singular.

Related terms

• clevynge

Descendants

• English: cleave
• Scots: cleave, cleif

References

• “clēven, v.(1).”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-06-8.