several

several
[[t]se̱vrəl[/t]]
DET: DET pl-n
Several is used to refer to an imprecise number of people or things that is not large but is greater than two.

I had lived two doors away from this family for several years...

Several blue plastic boxes under the window were filled with record albums...

Several hundred students gathered on campus to sing protest songs and hear speeches.

QUANT: QUANT of pl-n
Several is also a quantifier.

Supporters are urging him to take action against the demonstrators, several of whom are members of the parliament... According to several of their friends, their 25-year marriage has suffered some difficulties.

PRON
Several is also a pronoun.

No one drug will suit or work for everyone and sometimes several may have to be tried... Ben's case is not unique but one of several I have come up against during the past few years.


English dictionary. 2008.

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  • 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

  • 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,… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

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