c1275 [see α. forms]. c1300 2231 A-two [he] cleued his scheld.
c1320 4514 Man and hors he cleuede doun.
c1490 601 Cloudesly..Claue the wand in to.
1590 E. Spenser i. xi. sig. L4v The knotty sting Of his huge taile he quite a sonder clefte.
a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) iii. i. 60 To cleaue a heart in twaine. View more context for this quotation
1785 T. Jefferson iv. 31 The mountain being cloven asunder.
1855 T. B. Macaulay III. 361 He was cloven down while struggling in the press.