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v. A past tense and a past participle of cleave1. adj. 1. Divided; split. 2. Botany Having indentations that extend about halfway to the center, as in certain leaves. n. 1. A crack, crevice, or split. 2. A split or indentation between two parts, as of the chin. [Middle English, past participle of cleven, to split; see CLEAVE1. N., from Middle English, alteration (influenced by cleft) of clift, from Old English geclyft; see gleubh- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] |
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