9 uses
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1 —2 uses as in:
cleave through
Definition
to split something — especially with violent force
or:
to cut through something
or:
to cut through something
- ...the Persian, the most ancient Hindustanee, Served the mound-raiser on the Mississippi, served those whose relics remain in Central America, Served Albic temples in woods or on plains, with unhewn pillars and the druids, Served the artificial clefts, vast, high, silent, on the snow-cover'd hills of Scandinavia, Served those who time out of mind made on the granite walls rough sketches of the sun, moon, stars, ships, ocean waves, Served the paths of the irruptions of the Goths, served...Book 12 — Song of the Broad-Axe (62% in)
- ...crests and glistening, The stretch afar growing dimmer and dimmer, the gray walls of the granite storehouses by the docks, On the river the shadowy group, the big steam-tug closely flank'd on each side by the barges, the hay-boat, the belated lighter, On the neighboring shore the fires from the foundry chimneys burning high and glaringly into the night, Casting their flicker of black contrasted with wild red and yellow light over the tops of houses, and down into the clefts of streets.Book 8 — Crossing Brooklyn Ferry (40% in)
There are no more uses of "cleave" flagged with this meaning in Leaves of Grass.
Typical Usage
(best examples)
? —7 uses
exact meaning not specified
- Banner and Pennant: Yet louder, higher, stronger, bard! yet farther, wider cleave!Book 21 — DRUM-TAPS (19% in)
- In Cabin'd Ships at Sea In cabin'd ships at sea, The boundless blue on every side expanding, With whistling winds and music of the waves, the large imperious waves, Or some lone bark buoy'd on the dense marine, Where joyous full of faith, spreading white sails, She cleaves the ether mid the sparkle and the foam of day, or under many a star at night, By sailors young and old haply will I, a reminiscence of the land, be read, In full rapport at last.Book 1 — 1NSCRIPTIONS (14% in)
- Then falter not O book, fulfil your destiny, You not a reminiscence of the land alone, You too as a lone bark cleaving the ether, purpos'd I know not whither, yet ever full of faith, Consort to every ship that sails, sail you!Book 1 — 1NSCRIPTIONS (19% in)
- ...likewise ungovernable, Hair, bosom, hips, bend of legs, negligent falling hands all diffused, mine too diffused, Ebb stung by the flow and flow stung by the ebb, love-flesh swelling and deliciously aching, Limitless limpid jets of love hot and enormous, quivering jelly of love, white-blow and delirious nice, Bridegroom night of love working surely and softly into the prostrate dawn, Undulating into the willing and yielding day, Lost in the cleave of the clasping and sweet-flesh'd day.Book 4 — CHILDREN OF ADAM (31% in)
- Out of the bulk, the morbid and the shallow, Out of the bad majority, the varied countless frauds of men and states, Electric, antiseptic yet, cleaving, suffusing all, Only the good is universal.Book 17 — BIRDS OF PASSAGE (6% in)
- 2 As a strong bird on pinions free, Joyous, the amplest spaces heavenward cleaving, Such be the thought I'd think of thee America, Such be the recitative I'd bring for thee.Book 31 — Thou Mother with Thy Equal Brood.... (8% in)
- ...going of the vessels, he mutters to himself— And now the close of all: One struggling outbound brig, one day, baffled for long—cross-tides and much wrong going, At last at nightfall strikes the breeze aright, her whole luck veering, And swiftly bending round the cape, the darkness proudly entering, cleaving, as he watches, "She's free—she's on her destination"—these the last words—when Jenny came, he sat there dead, Dutch Kossabone, Old Salt, related on my mother's side, far back.Book 34 — SANDS AT SEVENTY (32% in)
There are no more uses of "cleave" in Leaves of Grass.
Typical Usage
(best examples)