cleave2

 
Pronunciation: /kliːv/

verb

[no object] (cleave to) literary
  • stick fast to: Rose’s mouth was dry, her tongue cleaving to the roof of her mouth
  • adhere strongly to (a particular pursuit or belief): part of why we cleave to sports is that excellence is so measurable
  • become very strongly involved with or emotionally attached to (someone): it was his choice to cleave to the Brownings

Origin:

Old English cleofian, clifian, clīfan, of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch kleven and German kleben, also to clay and climb