1570s, alteration (by influence of cleft, new weak past participle of cleave (v.1)), of Middle English clift (early 14c.), from Old English geclyft (adj.) "split, cloven," from Proto-Germanic *kluftis (cognates: Old High German and German kluft, Danish kløft "cleft"), from PIE *gleubh- (see glyph). In Middle English anatomy, it meant "the parting of the thighs" (early 14c.).
cleft (adj.)
late 14c., past participle adjective from cleave (v.1)). Cleft palate attested from 1828.
实用例句
1. a cleft in the rocks
岩石的裂缝来自《权威词典》
2. Their baby had an operation to repair a cleft palate.
