v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Severed p. pr. & vb. n. Severing. ] [ OF. sevrer, severer, to separate, F. sevrer to wean, fr. L. separare. See Separate, and cf. Several. ] 1. To separate, as one from another; to cut off from something; to divide; to part in any way, especially by violence, as by cutting, rending, etc.; as, to sever the head from the body. [ 1913 Webster ]

The angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just. Matt. xiii. 49. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To cut or break open or apart; to divide into parts; to cut through; to disjoin; as, to sever the arm or leg. [ 1913 Webster ]

Our state can not be severed; we are one. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To keep distinct or apart; to except; to exempt. [ 1913 Webster ]

I will sever in that day the land of Goshen, in which my people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there. Ex. viii. 22. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Law) To disunite; to disconnect; to terminate; as, to sever an estate in joint tenancy. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To suffer disjunction; to be parted, or rent asunder; to be separated; to part; to separate. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To make a separation or distinction; to distinguish. [ 1913 Webster ]

The Lord shall sever between the cattle of Israel and the cattle of Egypt. Ex. ix. 4. [ 1913 Webster ]

They claimed the right of severing in their challenge. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Capable of being severed. Encyc. Dict. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ OF., fr. LL. separalis, fr. L. separ separate, different. See Sever, Separate. ] 1. Separate; distinct; particular; single. [ 1913 Webster ]

Each several ship a victory did gain. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

Each might his several province well command,
Would all but stoop to what they understand. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Diverse; different; various. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

Habits and faculties, several, and to be distinguished. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

Four several armies to the field are led. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Consisting of a number more than two, but not very many; divers; sundry; as, several persons were present when the event took place. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. By itself; severally. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Every kind of thing is laid up several in barns or storehoudses. Robynson (More's Utopia). [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. Each particular taken singly; an item; a detail; an individual. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

There was not time enough to hear . . .
The severals. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Persons oe objects, more than two, but not very many. [ 1913 Webster ]

Several of them neither rose from any conspicuous family, nor left any behind them. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. An inclosed or separate place; inclosure. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

They had their several for heathen nations, their several for the people of their own nation. Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

In several, in a state of separation. [ R. ] “Where pastures in several be.” Tusser. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Severalities Each particular taken singly; distinction. [ Obs. ] Bp. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To distinguish. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Separately; distinctly; apart from others; individually. [ 1913 Webster ]

There must be an auditor to check and revise each severally by itself. De Quincey. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A state of separation from the rest, or from all others; a holding by individual right. [ 1913 Webster ]

Forests which had never been owned in severalty. Bancroft. [ 1913 Webster ]

Estate in severalty (Law), an estate which the tenant holds in his own right, without being joined in interest with any other person; -- distinguished from joint tenancy, coparcenary, and common. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]