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Added 9 October 2026

rift

/ɹɪft/ noun

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about rift at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

A gap between cloud masses.
the sun shone through a rift in the clouds
A narrow fissure in rock.
A personal or social separation (as between opposing factions).
they hoped to avoid a break in relations

Origin

From Middle English rift, of North Germanic origin; akin to Danish rift, Norwegian Bokmål rift (“breach”), Old Norse rífa (“to tear”). More at rive.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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