rive

/ˈrīv/

Middle English, from Old Norse rīfa; akin to Greek ereipein to tear down

verb

  1. to wrench open or tear apart or to pieces : rend

  2. to split with force or violence

  3. to divide into pieces or fractions

tear rip rend split cleave rive mean to separate forcibly. tear implies pulling apart by force and leaving jagged edges. rip implies a pulling apart in one rapid uninterrupted motion often along a line or joint.