Wiktionary

several

English edit

Alternative forms edit

Etymology edit

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

Pronunciation edit

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

Adjective edit

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 edit

Determiner edit

several

  1. Consisting of a number more than two but not very many. [from 17th c.]
    Several cars were in the parking lot.
    They had many journals. I subscribed to several.
    Several of the members were absent.
    • 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.
    • 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 14, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC:
      Just under the ceiling there were three lunette windows, heavily barred and blacked out in the normal way by centuries of grime. Their bases were on a level with the pavement outside, a narrow way which was several feet lower than the road behind the house.
    • 6 November 2004, The Guardian:
      Several people were killed and around 150 injured after a high-speed train hit a car on a level crossing and derailed tonight.
    • 2013 June 8, “Obama goes troll-hunting”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8839, page 55:
      The solitary, lumbering trolls of Scandinavian mythology would sometimes be turned to stone by exposure to sunlight. Barack Obama is hoping that several measures announced on June 4th will have a similarly paralysing effect on their modern incarnation, the patent troll.

Usage notes edit

  • Some dictionaries and many older grammars put several into the word class 'pronoun' in many of its uses.

Derived terms edit

Translations edit

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

See also edit

Adverb edit

several (not comparable)

  1. By itself; severally.

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. (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 edit

See also edit

References edit

Anagrams edit

Old French edit

Adjective edit

several m (oblique and nominative feminine singular severale)

  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 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 edit

Descendants edit

  • English: several

References edit

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