REND

rend. Rend, v.t. rent, pret. rent, pa. to tear, to tear or pull asunder with violence

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Rend (rĕnd), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Rent (r?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�na to rob, plunder, Ir. rannaim to divide, share, part, W. rhanu, Armor. ranna.]] 1. 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. 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.