[sev.er.al] adj [ME, fr. AF, fr. ML separalis, fr. L separ separate, back-formation fr. separare to separate] (15c) 1 a: separate or distinct from one another "federal union of the ~ states" b (1): individually owned or controlled: exclusive "a ~ fishery"--compare common (2): of or relating separately to each individual involved "a ~ judgment" c: being separate and distinctive: respective "specialists in their ~ fields"
2. a: more than one "~ pleas" b: more than two but fewer than many "moved ~ inches" c chiefly dial: being a great many
[2]several p ron, pl in constr (1686): an indefinite number more than two and fewer than many "~ of the guests"