-rend-

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

rend /rɛnd/   v. [~ + object] , rent/rɛnt/  rend•ing. 

1. to separate into parts with great force or suddenness;
   tear or rip apart:
   As a sign of his grief and rage the high priest rent his garments.
2. to disturb (the air) sharply with noise:
   Her sharp screams rent the air.
3. to distress (the heart) with painful feelings.

rend•er, n. [countable]

-rend-, root. 

1. -rend- comes from Latin, where it has the meaning "give.'' This meaning is found in such words as: render, rendition, surrender.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

rend  (rend), v., rent, rend•ing. 
v.t. 

1. to separate into parts with force or violence:
   The storm rent the ship to pieces.
2. to tear apart, split, or divide:
   a racial problem that is rending the nation.
3. to pull or tear violently (often fol. by away, off, up, etc.).
4. to tear (one's garments or hair) in grief, rage, etc.
5. to disturb (the air) sharply with loud noise.
6. to harrow or distress (the heart) with painful feelings.

v.i. 
7. to split or tear something.
8. to become torn or split.
• bef. 950; Middle English renden, Old English rendan; cognate with Old Frisian renda
rend′i•ble, adj. 
Synonyms
• 2. rive, sunder, sever, cleave, chop, fracture, rupture. See tear².