They rent the cloth to shreds. mourners rending their clothes in grief
Recent Examples on the WebThat's what Jonah craves after a particularly painful moment that Snyder delivers with rending clarity. Melinda Morris, NOLA.com, 10 July 2017 Such a move would rend a global deal that has been hailed as historic, throwing into question the fate of global climate policy and, diplomats say, the credibility of the United States. Coral Davenport, New York Times, 2 Mar. 2017 Although there are scenes of shocking cruelty, mostly involving Law’s character, Ritchie always pulls his camera away at the bloodiest moments, rending the PG-13 barbarity more theoretical. Michael O'sullivan, The Denver Post, 12 May 2017
Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Old English rendan; akin to Old Frisian renda to tear and perhaps to Sanskrit randhra hole