adj. 1. Being of a number more than two or three but not many: several miles away. 2. Respectively different; various: They parted and went their several ways. See Synonyms at distinct. 3. Law Regarded as separate, especially with regard to tort liability or legal obligation, such that each individual involved is fully responsible for the liability or obligation. 4. Archaic Single; distinct: "Pshaw! said I, with an air of carelessness, three several times" (Laurence Sterne). pron. (used with a pl. verb) An indefinite but small number; some or a few: Several of the workers went home sick. [Middle English, separate, from Anglo-Norman, from Medieval Latin sēparālis, sēperālis, from Latin sēpar, from sēparāre, to separate; see SEPARATE.] sever·al·ly adv. |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.