ˈsevə(r) verb
( severed ; severed ; severing -v(ə)riŋ ; severs )
Etymology: Middle English severen, from Middle French severer, sevrer, from Latin separare — more at separate
transitive verb
1.
a. : to put asunder : part
had been severed from the case because of illness — Paul Harris
should sever himself from them completely — Samuel Butler †1902
b. : to disjoin or disunite from one another
will … take an opportunity of severing these young men — Sir Walter Scott
fighting a war that the parts of the nation might not be severed
2. : to keep separate or apart by intervening
a world severed from … downtown by a gap so wide — Louis Auchincloss
the confluence of the … rivers which virtually severs it from the rest of the capital territory — H.W.H.King
3. : to discriminate between or set off from : distinguish
sever theology from philosophy — H.O.Taylor
4.
a. : to divide or break up into parts
army … was severed by inroads — Sir Winston Churchill
b.
(1) : to cut in two : sunder , cleave
came to a stop with the severed body about halfway under the locomotive — Springfield (Massachusetts) Daily News
severing the cable and releasing the flaming, heavily constructed car — American Guide Series: Minnesota
severed their last remaining ties to the Old World — Oscar Handlin
sever connections
sever diplomatic relations
(2) : to separate (from a whole) with suddenness or force
the guillotine severs the head from the body
c. : to scatter into parts : disperse
as wild geese that … sever themselves and madly sweep the sky — Shakespeare
5. : to disunite, disconnect, or divide into independent parts, rights, liabilities, or provisions (as an estate in joint tenancy or a contract or statute)
intransitive verb
1. : to go apart or asunder : to become parted or separated
if from me thou sever not — John Milton
in all their lives not to sever
2. : to become divided or separated into parts
the army must sever in three parts — Edward Hall
3. : to act independently or separately in a court of law
claimed the right of severing in their challenge — T.B.Macaulay
Synonyms: see separate