[f. CLEAVE v.1]

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  1.  The action of the vb. CLEAVE; splitting.

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c. 1000.  Ælfric, Voc., in Wr.-Wülcker, 151. Sectio, cliofung.

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c. 1440.  Promp. Parv., 82. Clyuynge or departynge [1499 cleuynge], scissura.

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1576.  Fleming, Panoplie Ep., 356. Let us take the axe … and settle ourselves to cleaving and riveing.

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1865.  J. T. F. Turner, Slate Quarries, 15. Cleaving is an art in which none can excel but those who practise it early.

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  b.  intr.

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1725.  Bradley, Fam. Dict., s.v. Seasoning of Timber, Submerging it in Water, to prevent cleaving.

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  2.  concr. A cleft, fissure; parting of the limbs (cf. CLEFT 2).

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c. 1400.  Maundev., viii. 86. The Rocke cleef in two, and in that clevyng was our Lord hidd.

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1632.  Lithgow, Trav., IV. (1682), 150. They bind a strong rope about his shoulders and cleavings.

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1724.  in Ramsay, Tea-t. Misc. (1763), 322. Syne in the cleaving of a craig She found him drown’d in Yarrow.

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  3.  attrib. and Comb.

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1703.  Moxon, Mech. Exerc., 199. With the Cleaving-knife and the Mawl, split it into a square piece.

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1861.  W. Pole, in Macm. Mag., III. 185/2. The cleaving property of the diamond.

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