Rift (?), obs.
p. p. of Rive.
Spenser.
© Webster 1913.
Rift, n. [Written also reft.] [Dan. rift, fr. rieve to rend. See Rive.]
1.
An opening made by riving or splitting; a cleft; a fissure.
Spenser.
2.
A shallow place in a stream; a ford.
© Webster 1913.
Rift, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Rifted; p. pr. & vb. n. Rifting.]
To cleave; to rive; to split; as, to rift an oak or a rock; to rift the clouds.
Longfellow.
To dwell these rifted rocks between.
Wordsworth.
© Webster 1913.
Rift, v. i.
1.
To burst open; to split.
Shak.
Timber . . . not apt to rif with ordnance.
Bacon.
2.
To belch.
[Prov. Eng. & Scot.]
© Webster 1913.