sever
verbattested in dialogue
- United Kingdom//ˈsɛv.ə//
- United States//ˈsɛv.ɚ//
To cut free.
verb
- 1
To cut free.
After he graduated, he severed all links to his family.
to sever the head from the body
The angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just.
That I just severed the main vein with a chainsaw and I'm in pain?
- 2
To suffer disjunction; to be parted or separated.
No more can I be seuered from your side
How great then was my anguish at being severed from my Regiment after thirty-three years!
- 3
To make a separation or distinction; to distinguish.
The Lord shall sever between the cattle of Israel and the cattle of Egypt.
They claimed the right of severing in their challenges.
- 4
To disconnect; to disunite; to terminate.
sever an estate in joint tenancy
Etymology
From Middle English severen, from Old French sevrer, from Latin separāre (“to separate”), from se- (“apart”) + parāre (“provide, arrange”). Doublet of separate, from the past participle of that Latin verb.
Forms
- past tense
- severed
- past participle
- severed
- present participle
- severing
- third person singular
- severs