several

several
sev|er|al [ `sev(ə)rəl ] function word, quantifier ***
Several can be used in the following ways:
as a determiner (followed by a plural noun):
Several buildings were damaged by the explosion.
as a pronoun:
If you want to see Edward's paintings, there are several in the city art gallery. (followed by of ):
I've introduced her to several of my friends.
Several of us will be attending the conference.
as an adjective (after a word such as the, his, or these, and followed by a noun):
Ariel is one of his several nieces.
These past several weeks have been difficult for the whole family.
1. ) a number of people or things that is more than two or three, but not many:
The strike lasted for several days.
He had already been warned several times about speeding.
Tobin wrote several books, including Decision of Destiny.
The cough was one of her several nervous habits.
There are only nine men in the program, but several have drug problems.
several of: Several of the passengers were badly injured.
several hundred/thousand etc.: City officials have lost several hundred thousand dollars in bad investments.
2. ) only before noun LITERARY various or separate:
They departed and went their several ways.
3. ) LEGAL relating to individual people separately:
joint and several liability

Usage of the words and phrases in modern English. 2013.

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Synonyms:
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Look at other dictionaries:

  • several — sev·er·al adj [Anglo French, from Medieval Latin separalis, from Latin separ separate] 1 a: of or relating separately to each individual involved; specif: enforceable separately against each party each promisor owed a several duty see also… …   Law dictionary

  • Several — Sev er*al, 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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Several — Sev er*al, 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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • several — is an adjective and pronoun. As an adjective, it is only used with plural countable nouns (several people but not several furniture) and is more positive in implication than a few. However, unlike a few, several cannot be qualified by an adverb… …   Modern English usage

  • several — [sev′ər əl, sev′rəl] adj. [ME < Anglo Fr < ML separalis < L separ, separate, back form. < separare: see SEPARATE] 1. existing apart; separate; distinct; individual 2. different; respective [parted and went their several ways] 3. more… …   English World dictionary

  • Several — Sev er*al, 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] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • several — early 15c., existing apart, from Anglo Fr. several, from M.Fr. seperalis separate, from L. separe (ablative of *separ distinct ), back formation from separare to separate (see SEPARATE (Cf. separate)). Meaning various, diverse, different is… …   Etymology dictionary

  • several — 1 *distinct, separate, discrete Analogous words: individual, particular, *special, especial 2 *many, sundry, various, divers, numerous, multifarious Analogous words: *single, separate, particular: detached, disengaged (see …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • several — [adj] assorted, various a few, a lot, any, certain, considerable, definite, different, disparate, distinct, divers, diverse, handful, hardly any, indefinite, individual, infrequent, manifold, many, not many, numerous, only a few, particular,… …   New thesaurus

  • several — ► DETERMINER & PRONOUN ▪ more than two but not many. ► ADJECTIVE ▪ separate or respective. DERIVATIVES severally adverb. ORIGIN Old French, from Latin separ separate, different …   English terms dictionary

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