clave

¹

[ kleyv ]

verb

, Archaic.

1. simple past tense of cleave ¹.

clave

²

[ klah-vey ]

noun

1. one of a pair of wooden sticks or blocks that are held one in each hand and are struck together to accompany music and dancing.

clave

¹

/ kleɪv /

noun

1. zoology a clublike thickening at the upper end of an organ, esp of the antenna of an insect

clave

²

/ kleɪv; klɑːv /

noun

1. music one of a pair of hardwood sticks struck together to make a hollow sound, esp to mark the beat of Latin-American dance music

clave

³

/ kleɪv /

verb

1. archaic.
   a past tense of cleave 1

Word History and Origins

Origin of clave¹

First recorded in 1925–30; Latin American Spanish, Spanish: “keystone,” from Latin clāvis “key”

Word History and Origins

Origin of clave¹

C19: from Latin clāva club

Origin of clave²

C20: from American Spanish, from Latin clavis key

Example Sentences

My tongue, as the Bible expresses it, clave to the roof of my mouth.

From Project Gutenberg

The magistrate's tongue clave to the roof of his mouth, as the scholar advanced, cap in hand, and bowed to one and the other.

From Project Gutenberg

Silence had always been easier to them than speech, and the habit clave to them even when they were in love.

From Project Gutenberg

Wherefore the name clave to the plain from Mac cecht's misery, that is, Mag Brén-guir.

From Project Gutenberg

He clave the rock in the wilderness, and caused waters to run down like a river.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• hew
• sunder