All 14 Uses of
cleave
in
Le Morte D'Arthur, Volume I
- And when King Arthur felt himself hurt, anon he smote him again with Excalibur that it cleft his head, from the summit of his head, and stinted not till it came to his breast.†
Book 5 (definition 1) *
- When Beaumains saw his shield cloven asunder he was a little ashamed of that stroke and of her language; and then he gave him such a buffet upon the helm that he fell on his knees.†
Book 7 (definition 1)
Uses with a very rare meaning:
- Thou sayest sooth, said Balin, this is not the first despite that thou hast done me, and therefore I will do what I came for, and rose up fiercely and clave his head to the shoulders.†
Book 2 (definition 2)
- Then Sir Gawaine alighted afoot and dressed his shield, and struck together mightily, and clave their shields, and stoned their helms, and brake their hauberks that the blood ran down to their feet.†
Book 3 (definition 2)
- So King Pellinore gave him such a stroke upon the helm that he clave the head down to the chin, that he fell to the earth dead.†
Book 3 (definition 2)
- Anon Sir Kay ran unto the fifth king, and smote him so hard on the helm that the stroke clave the helm and the head to the earth.†
Book 4 (definition 2)
- So this knight dressed him to the giant, putting his shield afore him, and the giant took an iron club in his hand, and at the first stroke he clave Sir Marhaus' shield in two pieces.†
Book 4 (definition 2)
- When the knight saw Sir Launcelot thus rebuking him he answered not, but drew his sword and rode unto Sir Launcelot, and Sir Launcelot threw his spear from him, and drew out his sword, and struck him such a buffet on the helmet that he clave his head and neck unto the throat.†
Book 6 (definition 2)
- Then Sir Launcelot drew his sword and put the stroke aback, and clave his head unto the paps.†
Book 6 (definition 2) *
- Sir Launcelot put his shield afore him and put the stroke away of the one giant, and with his sword he clave his head asunder.†
Book 6 (definition 2)
- When his fellow saw that, he ran away as he were wood, for fear of the horrible strokes, and Launcelot after him with all his might, and smote him on the shoulder, and clave him to the navel.†
Book 6 (definition 2)
- At the last Sir Beaumains clave his helm and his head down to the shoulders; and so he rode unto the damosel and bade her ride forth on her way.†
Book 7 (definition 2)
- Therewith the Green Knight was ashamed, and therewithal he gave a great stroke of might, and clave his shield through.†
Book 7 (definition 2)
- And he then smote him in the midst of the head such a mighty stroke that it clave his head in sunder, and dashed to the earth.†
Book 9 (definition 2)
Definitions:
-
(1) (cleave as in: cleave through) to split or cut through somethingeditor's notes: Ironically, this word can mean to split in two or to hold together.
Note that you may see cleaved, cleft, clove, or cloven as the past tense of this sense of cleave.
- (2) (meaning too rare to warrant focus)