- Rending
- Rend Rend (r[e^]nd), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Rent} (r[e^]nt); p.
pr. & vb. n. {Rending}.] [AS. rendan, hrendan; cf. OFries.
renda, randa, Fries. renne to cut, rend, Icel. hrinda to
push, thrust, AS. hrindan; or cf. Icel. r[ae]na to rob,
plunder, Ir. rannaim to divide, share, part, W. rhanu, Armor.
ranna.]
1. To separate into parts with force or sudden violence; to
tear asunder; to split; to burst; as, powder rends a rock
in blasting; lightning rends an oak.
[1913 Webster]
The dreadful thunder Doth rend the region. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
2. To part or tear off forcibly; to take away by force. [1913 Webster]
An empire from its old foundations rent. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
I will surely rend the kingdom from thee. --1 Kings xi. 11. [1913 Webster]
{To rap and rend}. See under {Rap}, v. t., to snatch. [1913 Webster]
Syn: To tear; burst; break; rupture; lacerate; fracture; crack; split. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.