Where does “cleaving” come from?
Cleaving derives from Middle English cleven, Old English cleofian, Proto-Germanic kleubaną, and Proto-Indo-European gley-, ultimately from the root gel- meaning to split or divide.
cleaving (English): present participle of cleave; The act of one who...
Definitions
- present participle of cleave; The act of one who...
Ancestry of “cleaving”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | cleave | To split or sever something with, or as if with,... |
| 2 | Middle English | cleven | To cleave; to split or slice through; To break... |
| 3 | Old English | clēofian | — |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | klibēn | to stick, to adhere |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | klibāną | to stick, to adhere |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | gleybʰ- | to stick |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | gley- | to glue, paste, stick together; to glue, stick... |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | gel- | to be cold, to freeze |