Stuck on the Cleaves crossword clue from NYT Crossword published on March 24 2018? We’re here to help you solve it.
This challenging clue requires careful thought. Our verified solution is ready for you below.
The Verified Answer for Cleaves is:
- ADHERES
Useful hints for “Cleaves” Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Clue Explanation
▼This particular definition for CLEAVE hasn’t been used in the Times puzzle since the early ’50s, but it’s perfectly valid — cleave can mean to split from or stick to. This is an example of a homograph, of which there are many in the English language. Fewer are homographs that are also antonyms; these are known as contronyms, or even “Janus words,” after the Roman god of beginnings and passages, who was depicted with faces on the front and back of his head. My particular favorite of these is “sanction.” It seems like a word tailor made for politics, doesn’t it?