What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Cleave vs Sunder - What's the difference?

cleave | sunder |

As a verb cleave

is to split or sever something with, or as if with, a sharp instrument or cleave can be to cling, adhere or stick fast to something; used with to or unto.

As a noun cleave

is (technology) flat, smooth surface produced by cleavage, or any similar surface produced by similar techniques, as in glass.

As a preposition sunder is

without.

cleave

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) cleven, from the (etyl) strong verb .

Verb

  • To split or sever something with, or as if with, a sharp instrument.
    • The wings cleaved the foggy air.
  • * Shakespeare
    • O Hamlet, thou hast cleft my heart in twain.
  • (mineralogy) To break a single crystal (such as a gemstone or semiconductor wafer) along one of its more symmetrical crystallographic planes (often by impact), forming facets on the resulting pieces.
  • To make or accomplish by or as if by cutting.
    • The truck cleaved a path through the ice.
  • (chemistry) To split (a complex molecule) into simpler molecules.
  • To split.
  • (mineralogy) Of a crystal, to split along a natural plane of division.

    • Noun

    (en noun)
  • (technology) Flat, smooth surface produced by cleavage, or any similar surface produced by similar techniques, as in glass.
    • Related terms
    * cleavage * cleft

    Derived terms

    * (l)

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) cleofian, from (etyl) . Cognates include German kleben, Dutch kleven.

    Verb

    (cleav)
  • To cling, adhere or stick fast to something; used with to or unto.

    • References

    * * English contranyms English irregular verbs English terms with multiple etymologies

    sunder

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl), from (etyl) .

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (dialectal, or, obsolete) Sundry; separate; different.
    • Derived terms
    *

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) . More at sundry.

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To break or separate or to break apart, especially with force.
  • To , separate.
    • {{quote-book
    , year=2003 , year_published= , edition= , editor= , author=Dean Barton , title=Searching for the Evergreen Man , chapter= citation , genre= , publisher=Llumina Press , isbn=9781932047233 , page=69 , passage=… Carlo finally saw Everything, before it sunders' into things; he saw Knowledge before it '''sunders''' into knowing; he saw Integrity before it '''sunders''' in integrals; he saw Unity before it ' sunders into units. }}
  • (UK, dialect, dated, transitive) To expose to the sun and wind.
    • (Halliwell)
    Quotations
    * 1881 , Severed Selves, lines 8-9 *: '' Two souls, the shores wave-mocked of sundering seas: — *: '' Such are we now.
    Derived terms
    * asunder * sunderance

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • a separation into parts; a division or severance
  • * 1939 , , Additional Poems , VII, lines 2-4
    • He would not stay for me to stand and gaze.
    I shook his hand and tore my heart in sunder
    And went with half my life about my ways.

    Anagrams

    * ----