rend Hear it!

rend Definition

rend (rend)

transitive verb rent, rend′·ing

  1. to tear, pull, or rip with violence: with from, off, away, etc.
  2. to tear, pull apart, rip up, or split with violence [a tree rent by lightning]: often used figuratively [a roar rends the air]
  3. to tear (one's clothing) to show grief, anguish, etc.

Etymology: ME renden < OE rendan, akin to OFris renda < IE base *rendh-, to tear apart > rind, Sans randhram, fissure, split

intransitive verb

to tear; burst; split apart

rend Synonyms

rend

v.

tear, rip, sever, sunder; see break 1, divide 1. See syn. study at tear.

rend Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • veil: Now at the rending of the veil we are invited to draw near.
  • garment: Or, more likely, wailing and rending of garments.

Object

  • veil: Let us beware of tinkering with our inner life in hope ourselves to rend the veil.
  • heaven: It was followed by a roaring crash that seemed to rend the very heavens.
  • attribute: On all other elements, the rend attribute is optional.
  • air: What sounded like a gunshot blast rending the night air.
  • heart: Know that in all your pangs that rend the heart, the loving Savior has a part.
  • metal: It was accompanied by a tortured screech of rending metal, which echoed around the hanger, giving agonized voice to those faces.

Modifying Another Word

  • asunder: I swear by the falling of stars; The Moon [ 54.1 ] The hour drew nigh and the moon did rend asunder.
  • heart: The scenes at the pit's mouth during the long attempt to clear the shaft were most heart rending.
  • not: How is it that her sighings did not rend thy walls apart?
  • anew: And lands will crack and rend anew You think it strange.
  • even: There is Filippo, the arrogant man, mired, weeping, torn until he even rends himself!

Preposition: in

twain: Somerset turned in time to see the mansion rend in twain, vomit forth flames and smoke, and instantly collapse into its cellars.