# rend one's garments

> English word · Verb

## Definitions
1. To fret or moan in an excessive or theatrical manner.
2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see rend, garment.

## Etymology
From the biblical and Jewish practice of keriah, the tearing of clothes when in mourning.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/rend-one-s-garments