Rend v. t. [imp. & p. p. Rent p. pr. & vb. n. Rending.]
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.
The dreadful thunder
Doth rend the region. --Shak.
2. To part or tear off forcibly; to take away by force.
An empire from its old foundations rent. --Dryden.
I will surely rend the kingdom from thee. --1 Kings xi. 11.
To rap and rend. See under Rap, v. t., to snatch.
Syn: -- To tear; burst; break; rupture; lacerate; fracture; crack; split.
rending
adj : resembling a sound of violent tearing as of something ripped
apart or lightning splitting a tree; "the tree split
with a great ripping sound"; "heard a rending roar as
the crowd surged forward" [syn: ripping, splitting]