Rend v. t. [imp. & p. p. Rent p. pr. & vb. n. Rending.]
 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.


 rending
      adj : resembling a sound of violent tearing as of something ripped
            apart or lightning splitting a tree; "the tree split
            with a great ripping sound"; "heard a rending roar as
            the crowd surged forward" [syn: ripping, splitting]