I. ˈsev-rəl, ˈse-və- adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin separalis, from Latin separ separate, back-formation from separare to separate
Date: 15th century
1.
a. : separate or distinct from one another
federal union of the several states
b.
(1) : individually owned or controlled : exclusive
a several fishery
— compare common
(2) : of or relating separately to each individual involved
a several judgment
c. : being separate and distinctive : respective
specialists in their several fields
2.
a. : more than one
several pleas
b. : more than two but fewer than many
moved several inches
c. chiefly dialect : being a great many
II. pronoun, plural in construction
Date: 1639
: an indefinite number more than two and fewer than many
several of the guests