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rend

2 ENTRIES FOUND:

rend

verb \ˈrend\
rent\ˈrent\ also rend·ed\ˈren-dəd\rend·ing

Definition of REND

transitive verb
1
: to remove from place by violence : wrest
2
: to split or tear apart or in pieces by violence
3
: to tear (the hair or clothing) as a sign of anger, grief, or despair
4
a : to lacerate mentally or emotionally b : to pierce with sound c : to divide (as a nation) into contesting factions
intransitive verb
1
: to perform an act of tearing or splitting
2
: to become torn or split

Examples of REND

  1. They rent the cloth to shreds.
  2. mourners rending their clothes in grief

Origin of REND

Middle English, from Old English rendan; akin to OldFrisian renda to tear and perhaps to Sanskrit randhra hole
First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to REND

See Synonym Discussion at tear

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