I. ˈsev(ə)rəl, esp before a vowel -vərl adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin separalis, from Latin separ separate (from separare to separate) + -alis -al — more at separate
1.
a. archaic : having a separate existence : separate , apart
must do it … as a person several from them — John Milton
b.
(1) obsolete : privately or individually owned or controlled
a several plot — Shakespeare
— opposed to common
(2) : possessed by or attributed to specified individuals : respective
having thirteen children which somewhat reduced their several inheritances — Lucien Price
will call the members for their several opinions — T.R.Ybarra
c. : being a separate member of a group, class, or series : individually different within a type
elegance of diction was … the result of her knowledge of three several tongues — Elinor Wylie
d.
(1) : being of different kinds : diverse , various
one of the several effects of the postwar changes — Taylor Cole
threw his several mercantile ventures into the hands of creditors — Frank Monaghan
(2) obsolete : made up of different elements : diversely composed
e. : of or relating separately to each individual of two or more tenants, persons, or parties involved (as in a contract or a suit) : severable
a several judgment may be had on a couterclaim … when judgment may be rendered for the plaintiff, or all of the plaintiffs, if more than one, or for the defendant, or all of the defendants, if more than one — S.J.Ervin
specifically : enforceable separately against each party
the contractual liability of each company to insured is several and not joint — R.E.Keeton
— compare joint 2b(3), joint and several
2.
a. : more than one
b. : consisting of an indefinite number more than two and fewer than many usually of the same class or group
were around 75 … men present but only several women — Linda Braidwood
a sojourn of several months in England — G.H.Genzmer
have had several children — W.J.Ghent
c. chiefly dialect : being a good many : many
several young men … run into a worse extreme — Jonathan Swift
Synonyms: see distinct
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from several, adjective
1.
a. archaic : land that is privately owned or controlled ; specifically : an enclosed plot of such land
b. obsolete : private property or ownership
2. obsolete
a. : something that is particular : an individual part : particular , detail — usually used in plural
the severals and unhidden passage of his true titles — Shakespeare
b. severals plural : individual persons or things
3. severals plural , chiefly dialect : several persons or things
•
- in several
III. adverb
Etymology: several (I)
archaic : by itself : severally , separately
IV. pronoun, plural in construction
Etymology: several (I)
1. : an indefinite number more than two and fewer than many
several of the alumni have served on the board of trustees — Bulletin of Meharry Medical College
goes to the store for oranges and purchases several
2. chiefly dialect : a good many : many