CLEAVE (2)

Cleave (klēv), v. t. [imp. Cleft (klĕft), Clave (klāv, Obs.), Clove (klōv, Obsolescent); p. p. Cleft, Cleaved (klēvd) or Cloven (klō″v'n); p. pr. & vb. n. Cleaving.] [[OE. cleoven, cleven, AS. cleófan; akin to OS. klioban, D. klooven, G. klieben, Icel. kljūfa, Sw. klyfva, Dan. klöve and prob. to Gr. γλύφειν to carve, L. glubere to peel. Cf. Cleft.]] 1. 1. To part or divide by force; to split or rive; to cut.
O Hamlet, thou hast cleft my heart in twain. Shak. 2. 2. To part or open naturally; to divide.
Every beast that parteth the hoof, and cleaveth the cleft into two claws. Deut. xiv. 6.