several

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Contents

English [edit]

Alternative forms [edit]

Etymology [edit]

From Anglo-Norman several, from Medieval Latin sēparālis, from Latin sēpar (“separate”).

Pronunciation [edit]

  • IPA: /ˈsɛvɹəl/, X-SAMPA: /"sEvr@l/
  • Audio (US)
    		(file)
  • Hyphenation: sev‧er‧al

Determiner [edit]

several

  1. (obsolete) Separate, distinct; particular. [15th-19th century]
    • 1603, John Florio, trans. Michel de Montaigne, Essays, I.42:
      He had a religion apart: a God severall unto himselfe, whom his subjects might no waies adore.
    • 1621, Robert Burton, The Anatomy of Melancholy, II.i.4.2:
      So one thing may be good and bad to several parties, upon diverse occasions.
  2. A number of different; various. (Now merged into later senses, below) [from 16th century]
    • 1610, The Tempest, by Shakespeare, act 3 scene 1
      [...] for several virtues / Have I lik'd several women; never any / With so full soul but some defect in her / Did quarrel with the noblest grace she ow'd, / And put it to the foil [...]
  3. Consisting of a number more than two or three but not very many; diverse. [from 17th century]
    • 1784, William Jones, The Description and Use of a New Portable Orrery, &c., preface:
      The favourable reception the Orrery has met with from Perſons of the firſt diſtinction, and from Gentlemen and Ladies in general, has induced me to add to it ſeveral new improvements in order to give it a degree of Perfection; and diſtinguiſh it from others ; which by Piracy, or Imitation, may be introduced to the Public.
    • 2004, The Guardian, 6 Nov 2004:
      Several people were killed and around 150 injured after a high-speed train hit a car on a level crossing and derailed tonight

Derived terms [edit]

See also [edit]

Translations [edit]

consisting of a number more than two, but not very many
obsolete: separate, distinct
diverse; different; various
The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.
Translations to be checked

Adverb [edit]

several (not comparable)

  1. By itself; severally.
    • Robynson (More's Utopia)
      Every kind of thing is laid up several in barns or storehouses.

Noun [edit]

several (plural severals)

  1. (obsolete) An area of land in private ownership (as opposed to common land).
  2. Each particular taken singly; an item; a detail; an individual.
  3. (archaic) An enclosed or separate place; enclosure.

Translations [edit]

obsolete: an area of land in private ownership
each particular taken singly; an item; a detail; an individual
archaic: an enclosed or separate place; enclosure

Statistics [edit]

Anagrams [edit]

Old French [edit]

Adjective [edit]

several m

  1. separate

Declension [edit]

  Declension of several  
Number Case Masculine Feminine Neuter
Singular Subject severaus severale several
Oblique several severale several
Plural Subject several severales several
Oblique severaus severales several

Noun [edit]

several m (oblique plural severaus, nominative singular severaus, nominative plural several)

  1. one's own property or possession

Related terms [edit]

Descendants [edit]

References [edit]

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