Sundering: meaning, definitions and examples

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sundering

 

[ ˈsʌndərɪŋ ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

separating forces

To sunder means to split apart or to separate something into two or more parts. This term often conveys a sense of forcefulness or violence in the action of breaking or dividing.

Synonyms

dismember, divide, sever, split

Examples of usage

  • The earthquake sundered the town into separate regions.
  • Their disagreements sundered the once close-knit group.
  • The river has sundered the land into two distinct areas.
  • Years of conflict sundered the family beyond repair.

Translations

Translations of the word "sundering" in other languages:

🇵🇹 divisão

🇮🇳 विभाजन

🇩🇪 Teilung

🇮🇩 pemisahan

🇺🇦 розділення

🇵🇱 podział

🇯🇵 分割

🇫🇷 division

🇪🇸 división

🇹🇷 bölünme

🇰🇷 분리

🇸🇦 انقسام

🇨🇿 dělení

🇸🇰 rozdelenie

🇨🇳 分裂

🇸🇮 delitev

🇮🇸 skipting

🇰🇿 бөліну

🇬🇪 გამიჯვნა

🇦🇿 ayrılma

🇲🇽 división

Etymology

The word 'sunder' originates from the Old English term 'syndrian', which meant 'to separate' or 'to divide.' The root can be traced back to Proto-Germanic '*sunþrō', which is related to similar words in other Germanic languages, such as Old High German 'sundarō' and Old Norse 'sundr'. The evolution of the word in English reflects a broader semantic range from a more general sense of separation to a connotation of violent or forcible division. With its use dating back to the early Middle Ages, 'sunder' has captured the imagination of writers and poets, emphasizing the dramatic impact of separation in relationships, communities, and even in nature.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #36,677, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.