verb

rive

RIVE/raɪv/

To split or tear apart forcefully.

The powerful wedge rives the timber into two sections, tearing its fibers.

Powerful wedge rends thick timber into two sections with torn fibers.

Etymology

Rive comes from an uncertain Scandinavian or North Sea Germanic source akin to Old Norse rifa, “tear apart.” Its recorded meaning “tear in pieces, strike asunder” already expresses the violent splitting of the current sense.

More examples

The storm has riven the old oak from top to bottom.
A bitter dispute has riven the family.
He rived the timber along its grain.

Forms

rive · rives · rived · riven · riving

Similar words

split: Means dividing into parts, without necessarily implying great force.
tear: Emphasizes pulling material apart rather than splitting along the grain.
cleave: Often suggests splitting something solid with a sharp tool.