The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Rend \Rend\ (r[e^]nd), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Rent (r[e^]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[ae]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.
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            The dreadful thunder
            Doth rend the region.                 --Shak.
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   2. To part or tear off forcibly; to take away by force.
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            An empire from its old foundations rent. --Dryden.
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            I will surely rend the kingdom from thee. --1 Kings
                                                  xi. 11.
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   To rap and rend. See under Rap, v. t., to snatch.
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   Syn: To tear; burst; break; rupture; lacerate; fracture;
        crack; split.
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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

rending
    adj 1: 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: rending, ripping,
           splitting]