asunder

• asundre (obsolete)

Originally two words; from Old English on (“a (preposition)”) sundran (“separate position”), from Proto-Germanic *sunder, *sundraz. Cognate with Danish sønder, Swedish sönder, Dutch zonder, German sonder, Icelandic sundur, Faroese sundur and Norwegian sunder/sønder; akin to Gothic 𐍃𐌿𐌽𐌳𐍂𐍉 (sundrō).

• (UK, Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /əˈsʌndə/
• (US, General American) enPR: ə-sŭnʹdər, IPA^(key): /əˈsʌndɚ/
• Rhymes: -ʌndə(ɹ)
• Hyphenation: asun‧der

asunder (comparative more asunder, superlative most asunder)

1. Into separate parts or pieces; apart.

   Lest anyone find her treasure, she tore the map asunder and cast its pieces into the wind.

   • 1866, Charles Dickens, The Signal-Man‎:

     On both of those occasions, he came back to the fire with the inexplicable air upon him which I had remarked, without being able to define, when we were so far asunder.

   • 1985, Kate Bush, Running Up That Hill

     You don't want to hurt me, but see how deep the bullet lies. Unaware that I'm tearing you asunder. There is thunder in our hearts.

• apart, in twain; see also Thesaurus:asunder

• put asunder

• Urendas, asundre, enduras, unreads