sleave

1 of 2

noun

ˈslēv 

archaic

: skein

sleep that knits up the raveled sleave of care

—William Shakespeare

sleave

2 of 2

verb

sleaved; sleaving; sleaves

transitive verb

obsolete

: to separate (silk thread) into filaments

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Middle English *sleven, from Old English -slǣfan to cut

First Known Use

Noun

1591, in the meaning defined above

Verb

circa 1628, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing sleave

• sleave silk