Rift
/rɪft/noun
A narrow opening, crack, or break in something; also a serious disagreement or split.
Did you know?“Rift” is tied to old Germanic words for tearing and splitting, so its modern emotional meaning of a relationship break is a very literal survival of an ancient wound-language.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*riftą
“a tear, slit, or opening”
Old English
OE
rift
“a split, fissure, or gap”
Middle English
ME
rift
“a cleft, crack, or opening in land or material”
16th Century
English
rift
“a break or gap, especially in a surface or relationship”
Modern English
English
rift
“a crack, split, or serious disagreement”