cleofan
Old English
Etymology
From Proto-Germanic *kleubaną, from Proto-Indo-European *glewbʰ- (“cut, carve”). Germanic cognates include Old Saxon kliovan, Dutch klieven, Old High German klioban, Old Norse kljúfa.The Indo-European root is also the source of Greek γλυφειν ‘hollow out’, Latin glubere ‘excoriate’, Old Church Slavonic glǫbok’ (Russian глубокий ‘deep’, compare globok).
Pronunciation
- IPA: /ˈkleːovɑn/
Verb
clēofan (strong class II)
- to cleave, to split
- Bordweall clufon aforan Eadweardes. Edward’s sons clove the shield-wall. (Anglo-Saxon Chronicles)
Conjugation
Conjugation of cleofan (strong class II)
| indicative | present | preterite |
|---|---|---|
| 1st-person singular | clēofe | clēaf |
| 2nd-person singular | clēofest | clufe |
| 3rd-person singular | clēofeþ | clēaf |
| plural | clēofaþ | clufon |
| subjunctive | present | preterite |
| singular | clēofe | clufe |
| plural | clēofen | clufen |
| imperative | ||
| singular | clēof | |
| plural | clēofaþ | |
| participle | present | past |
| clēofende | clofen | |
Descendants
- Middle English: cleven
- English: cleave