sleave
1 of 2noun
ˈslēv 
archaic
: skein
sleep that knits up the raveled sleave of care
William Shakespeare
William Shakespearesleave
2 of 2verb
sleaved; sleaving; sleaves
transitive verb
obsolete
: to separate (silk thread) into filaments
Word History
Etymology
Verb and Noun
Middle English *sleven, from Old English -slǣfan to cut
First Known Use
Noun
1591, in the meaning defined above
Verb
circa 1628, in the meaning defined above