several

English Online Dictionary. What means several‎? What does several mean?

English

Alternative forms

• severall (obsolete)

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman several, from Medieval Latin sēparālis, from Latin sēpar (“separate”). By surface analysis, sever +‎ -al.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈsɛv(ə)ɹəl/
• Hyphenation: sev‧er‧al, seve‧ral

Adjective

several (comparative more several, superlative most several)

1. (obsolete) Separate, distinct; particular. [15th–19th c.]
2. A number of different; various. [from 16th c.]
3. (law) Separable, capable of being treated separately.

Derived terms

• have several seats
• joint and several
• several fishery

Determiner

several

1. Consisting of a number more than one (especially, more than two) but not very many. [from 17th c.]

   Synonyms: a few, a couple of

   Antonyms: one; zero, no; many, numerous; countless

   Hypernyms: multiple, various

   Coordinate term: a handful of

   • 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.

Usage notes

• Some dictionaries and many older grammars put several into the word class 'pronoun' in many of its uses.
• To some speakers, several means "more than one but not very many"; to some others, it means "more than two but not very many." The sole difference is whether two things count as several, when the counting is not precise (especially in situations where it may change at any instant, such as several birds in the yard). A similar variability likewise applies to a few, as well as a couple of versus a couple of.

Derived terms

Translations

See also

• sever

Adverb

several (not comparable)

1. By itself; severally.

Noun

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. (Can we add an example for this sense?)
3. (archaic) An enclosed or separate place; enclosure. (Can we add an example for this sense?)
4. (archaic) A woman's loose outer garment, capable of being worn as a shawl, or in other forms.

Translations

See also

• Thesaurus:quantifier

References

• “several”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.
• “several”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.

Anagrams

• Leavers, laveers, leavers, reveals, vealers

Old French

Adjective

several m (oblique and nominative feminine singular severale)

1. separate

Declension

Noun

several oblique singular, m (oblique plural severaus or severax or severals, nominative singular severaus or severax or severals, nominative plural several)

1. one's own property or possession

Related terms

• sevrer
• desevrer

Descendants

• English: several

References

• several on the Anglo-Norman On-Line Hub