Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Rend \Rend\ (r[e^]nd), 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.

Source : WordNet®

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}]