[rend] 
verb, rent, rend⋅ing.| 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. |
| 7. | to split or tear something. |
| 8. | to become torn or split. |
| rend (rěnd) v. rent (rěnt) or rend·ed, rend·ing, rends v. tr.
To become torn or split; come apart. [Middle English renden, from Old English rendan.] |