asunder

UK /əˈsʌndə/US /əˈsʌndəɹ/

adverb5

•
(literary, no longer used) Into separate parts or pieces, often due to some violent action.
- And he [Judas Iscariot] hath nowe possessed a plott of grounde with the rewarde off iniquyte. And when he was hanged⸝ brast [burst] a sondre in the myddes⸝ and all his bowels gusshed out. — 1526
•
(literary, no longer used) Apart or separate from each other.
- Page. I vvarrant you, hee's the man should fight vvith him. / […] [Robert] Shal[low]. It appeares so by his vveapons: keep them asunder: […] — 1597
•
(literary, no longer used) Moving apart from each other.
- Our hartes swelled, as that they shoulde breake / The fire of loue, was so sore kept vnder / When I from her, shoulde departe asunder — 1506
•
(literary, no longer used) Apart from other people; individually, separately; specifically, in private, privately.
- [I]t vvas Employment enough for us to keep them [the prisoners] assunder, and supply them vvith Victuals. — 1719
•
(literary, no longer used) Chiefly in the form to know asunder: in a manner distinguishable from other similar things.
- Ye summond our kynge,—why dyd ye so? / […] / Know ye not suger and salt asonder? / Your sumner to saucy, to malapert, / Your harrold in armes not yet halfe experte. — 1525

•
(no longer used) Different, unlike.
- Moth[er]: I cannot blame thee. / But it greeues thee more that Villaine liues. / Iul[iet]: VVhat Villaine Madame? / Moth: That Villaine Romeo. / Iul: Villaine and he are manie miles a sunder. — 1591

forms

asundered · asundering · asunders · more asunder · most asunder