Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CLEAVE, v.i.¹ [pret. clave or cleaved. Sax. cleofian, cliofian, to split and to adhere; clyfian, to adhere; D. kleeven; G. kleben or kleiben; Dan. klæber, kleber; Sw. klibba; Russ. lipnu. The old preterit clave is obsolescent.]

1. To stick; to adhere; to hold to. My bones cleave to my skin. – Ps. cii. Let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth. – Ps. cxxxvii. Cleave to that which is good. – Rom. xii.
2. To unite aptly; to fit; to sit well on. – Shak.
3. To unite or be united closely in interest or affection; to adhere with strong attachment. A man shall leave father and mother, and cleave to his wife. – Gen. ii. Matth. xix. Cleave to Jehovah your God. – Josh. xxiii.