cleave

/ˈklēv/

Middle English clevien, from Old English clifian; akin to Old High German kleben to stick

verb

to adhere firmly and closely or loyally and unwaveringly

They kept themselves strictly separate, each cleaving to their own language, rituals, and food.

stick adhere cohere cling cleave mean to become closely attached. stick implies attachment by affixing or by being glued together. adhere is often interchangeable with stick but sometimes implies a growing together.

verb

to divide by or as if by a cutting blow : split
to separate into distinct parts and especially into groups having divergent views
to subject to chemical cleavage

The blow cleaved the victim's skull.

tear rip rend split cleave rive mean to separate forcibly. tear implies pulling apart by force and leaving jagged edges. rip implies a pulling apart in one rapid uninterrupted motion often along a line or joint.