rend

[rend]

verb (used with object)

rent, rending 

1. to separate into parts with force or violence.

   The storm rent the ship to pieces.

2. to tear apart, split, or divide.

   racial tension that is rending the nation.

   Synonyms: rupture, fracture, chop, cleave, sever, sunder, rive

3. to pull or tear violently (often followed by away, off, up, etc.).

4. to tear (one's garments or hair) in grief, rage, etc.

5. to disturb (the air) sharply with loud noise.

6. to harrow or distress (the heart) with painful feelings.

verb (used without object)

rent, rending 

1. to split or tear something.

2. to become torn or split.

rend

/ rɛnd /

verb

1. to tear with violent force or to be torn in this way; rip

2. (tr) to tear or pull (one's clothes, etc), esp as a manifestation of rage or grief

3. (tr) (of a noise or cry) to disturb (the air, silence, etc) with a shrill or piercing tone

4. (tr) to pain or distress (the heart, conscience, etc)

Other Word Forms

• rendible adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of rend¹

First recorded before 950; Middle English renden, Old English rendan; cognate with Old Frisian renda

Word History and Origins

Origin of rend¹

Old English rendan ; related to Old Frisian renda

Synonym Study

See tear ².

Example Sentences

For all the rending of garments over the “unelected bureaucrat” parliamentarian usurping their God-given mandate, a good many of them will be relieved.

From Salon

Weed heads began gnashing their teeth and rending their garments.

From Los Angeles Times

The rending of hair and gnashing of teeth from those who despise Donald Trump continues inside the Beltway and across the country two weeks after his election to a second presidential term.

From Salon

The rending of hair and gnashing of teeth has begun.

From Salon

Well, on a purely craven level, these stories are juicy as hell — sex, love, murder, redemption, ecstatic connections and a rending of the social fabric.

From New York Times

Related Words

• rive