Cleave is also from Old English, but it is thought its two opposite meanings come from two different roots, clēofan and clifian, and that may be how the word ended up with two meanings.

English can be a very silly language, with many words looking nothing like the way they should be said. There are also a lot of words that so many people say slightly wrong, that often people are ...

Antonyms are words with opposite meaning ... This clip is suitable for teaching English at Key Stage 3 or Third Level.