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.
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.
Rend, v. i. To be rent or torn; to
become parted; to separate; to split. Jer. Taylor.