asunder

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The Word of the Day for February 25 is: 

asunder   \uh-SUN-der\   adverb or adjective
    *1 : into parts 
     2 : apart from each other in position

Example sentence: 
     The wreckage is believed to be that of a British vessel that was torn 
asunder by a deadly storm almost a hundred years ago.

Did you know?
     "Asunder" dates from the 14th century and can be traced back to the Old 
English word "sundor," meaning "apart." It is a relative of the verb "sunder," 
which means "to break apart or in two" or "to become parted or severed." The 
"into parts" sense of "asunder" is often used in the phrase "tear asunder," 
which can be used both literally and figuratively (as in "a family torn asunder 
by tragedy"). The "separated in position" sense can be found in the phrase 
"poles asunder," used to describe two things that are as vastly far apart as 
the poles of the Earth.

*Indicates the sense illustrated by the example sentence. 






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