Middle English Dictionary Entry

clēven v.(1)
Quotations: Show all Hide all

Entry Info

Forms clēven v.(1) Also clevien, clefien, cleov(i)en, clivien & ? clīven. Forms: sbj. 3 cleffe; p.sg. clēved(e, clivede & clāf, claif, clāve, clōf, clēf; p.pl. clēved(en, clived(en & clẹ̄ven, clāve, clāf; ppl. clēved & cliven, iclive.
Etymology OE cleofian, clifian & (rare) clīfan, *clāf, *clifon. Descendents of the OE ablaut verb occur chiefly in Northern texts.

Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)

1.
(a) To stick or adhere (to sth.); be sticky or adhesive; ppl. sticky, viscous, adhesive; -- often with on, to; (b) to stick together, cohere; be cohesive; -- often with togeder; (c) to be fastened or attached (to sth. or together); be firmly fixed or held in place; fit tightly together.
Show 38 Quotations
2.
To hold or hang (on to sth.), as with hands or feet; cling (to the ground, a board, etc.); ~ faste; also, make contact (with sth.).
Show 12 Quotations
3.
To inhere (in sth.), be a natural or essential part or aspect (of sth.); be (one's) allotted share or possession.
Show 7 Quotations
4.
To remain, abide, persist, endure; remain, stay, dwell (in a place, a person); persist (in a state, a way of life); persist (in time), endure, last.
Show 16 Quotations
5.
To adhere (to a person, a doctrine, etc.) as an associate, ally, follower, or believer; be devoted or obedient; ~ sore, be utterly devoted; ~ in (on) wil, be obedient to (someone's) will; cleving consent, adherence (to an opinion).
Show 13 Quotations
6.
Misc. uses: (a) to come into (someone's) possession; (b) to be consistent or harmonious; (c) ppl. memorable, convincing; (d) to stand still, be inert.
Show 6 Quotations

Supplemental Materials (draft)

  • a1400 Trin-C O.9.39 Recipes (Trin-C O.9.39) 20/29 : Ȝyf þyn maters cleve enyþyng to þe pannys syde, take þe a treen platere and anoynte hit with some of þyn vnce oyle..and reyse hit from þy panne.
  • ?c1500 Hrl.2252 Artist.Recipes (Hrl 2252) 74/5 : Assay yf hyt cleve faste to the boke, and yf hyt do not, put gleyre þerto to make hyt bygge.
    • Note: Additional quots., sense 1.(a).

Supplemental Materials (draft)

  • ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.38rb (2.3) : Mater contagiouse bredith into aposteme, sometyme of þe lunges and somtyme of þe ribbes..and cleueand þeron.
  • ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.92rb (3.6) : 'Viscus' is birdlym and þerof comeþ 'viscosus' (anglice: ropand and cleuand togedre).
Note: New spellings (pr. ppl.): cleuand, cleueand.

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