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.