It means, basically, its own opposite. Cleave (v) – to adhere / Cleave (v) – to split by cutting. And my high school calculus teacher / track coach was named Cleve (or, colloquially, Clevage). Which is a big plus.
Gary
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CleaveDecember 30th, 2007 | December 30th, 2007 | % |
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Cleave is the most often cited example of what I call a contranym. Its two contrary meanings have grown from two distinct roots, one Greek, the other Germanic: two words which have cleaved together, with cloven meanings. I collect contranyms. I have at least 100 (let, spell, dust, screen…), but cleave is first on my list.