Definition 1: To split asunder or into two pieces.

Definition 2: To cling or adhere firmly to.

Usage 2: The past tense of cleave (to cling or adhere to firmly) is "cleaved" or "clove" and the past participle is "cleaved." The past tense of cleave (to split asunder) is "cleaved or "clove" while the past participle is "cleft" (as in "cleft palate") or "cloven" (as in "cloven hoof"). Apparently both verbs are in the process of 'morphological regularization' in which the irregular past forms are being replaced by regular forms on -ed.

Suggested usage: It is possible to use both these verbs in one sentence despite their opposing meanings: "When I clove (cleaved) the log, splinters flew up and clove (cleaved) to my sweater." (Thanks to Mike Wiecko of Wales for suggesting today's common yet uncommon word.)

Etymology: The reason this particular verb has two antagonistic meanings is that it is, in fact, two different verbs. The first is from Old English clifian, Middle English clevien, akin to Old High German kleben "to stick." The second is from Old English cleofan, Middle English cleven, akin to Old Norse kljufa "to split," Latin glubere "to peel," and Greek glyphein "to carve" (as in hieroglyphics "sacred carvings").