## Meanings
1. A serious break in friendly relations; a state of conflict or distance between people.
2. A deep crack or split in rock or the ground.
3. A gap or opening, especially in clouds, that lets light through.

## Examples
- The argument over money caused a lasting rift between the two brothers.
- Lava flowed up through a rift in the volcanic floor.
- Sunlight streamed through a rift in the clouds.

## Derived Forms
- palaeorift
- paleorift
- riftless
- riftsawn
- rifty

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: rift

## Etymology
From Middle English rift, of North Germanic origin; akin to Danish rift, Norwegian Bokmål rift (“breach”), Old Norse rífa (“to tear”). More at rive.

## AI Etymology
Rift is from Middle English rift, of North Germanic origin; akin to Danish rift, Norwegian Bokmål rift (“breach”), Old Norse rífa (“to tear”). More at rive. Important recorded forms include rift (Middle English). Current senses include a serious break in friendly relations; a state of conflict or distance between people and a deep crack or split in rock or the ground. The wider family includes derived forms such as palaeorift, paleorift, riftless, riftsawn, and rifty.

## Topics
- Space, Position & Direction

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