sever

present singular third person severs · participle present severing · participle past severed · past severed

1. transitiveTo cut free.

   to sever the head from the body

   3 more examples

   After he graduated, he severed all links to his family.

   The angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just.

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Matthew 13:49

   That I just severed the main vein with a chainsaw and I'm in pain?

   1999, Eminem, Role Model

   Synonyms: hew

2. intransitiveTo suffer disjunction; to be parted or separated.

   No more can I be seuered from your side

   1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Sixt”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene v]

   1 more example

   How great then was my anguish at being severed from my Regiment after thirty-three years!

   1918, Rudyard Kipling, “A Retired Gentleman”, in The Eyes of Asia, Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, Page & Company, →OCLC, page 4

3. intransitiveTo make a separation or distinction; to distinguish.

   They claimed the right of severing in their challenges.

   1849–1861, Thomas Babington Macaulay, chapter XVII, in The History of England from the Accession of James the Second, volume (please specify |volume=I to V), London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, →OCLC

   1 more example

   The Lord shall sever between the cattle of Israel and the cattle of Egypt.

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Exodus 9:4

4. lawTo disconnect; to disunite; to terminate.

   sever an estate in joint tenancy

   1765–1769, William Blackstone, Commentaries on the Laws of England, (please specify |book=I to IV), Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] Clarendon Press, →OCLC