Word
riven
Phoneticsriv·en
US/ˈɹɪvən/
UK/ɹˈɪvən/
Definitions
01divided by conflict
adj. split or divided by strong disagreement or fighting.
adj. deeply divided by internal conflict, disagreement, or factionalism.
“The country was riven by a long and painful civil war.”
“The political party remained riven by internal disputes, making it impossible for the leadership to present a unified front during the election.”
Literary · Formal
Usage
Often used with the preposition 'by' to indicate the cause of the division.
Teaching tip
This is a high-level word mostly found in journalism and literature; students should use 'divided' in everyday conversation.
02physically split
adj. torn apart or broken into pieces by force.
adj. physically split or rent asunder, often implying a violent or forceful separation.
“The old tree was riven in two by a massive bolt of lightning.”
“The landscape was riven by deep canyons, carved over millennia by the relentless force of the river.”
Literary
Teaching tip
In modern English, this physical sense is much rarer than the figurative sense of social or political division.
Etymology
From Middle English riven, past participle of rive (“to rive”). Compare Old Norse rifinn, past participle of Old Norse rífa (“to pick, scratch, rive”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/riven