several Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective satellite (used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
    • several letters came in the mail
    • several people were injured in the accident
  2. adjective satellite considered individually
    respective; various.
    • the respective club members
    • specialists in their several fields
    • the various reports all agreed
  3. adjective satellite distinct and individual
    • three several times

WordNet

Sev"er*al adjective
Etymology
OF., fr. LL. separalis, fr. L. separ separate, different. See Sever, Separate.
Definitions
  1. Separate; distinct; particular; single.
    Each several ship a victory did gain. Dryden.
    Each might his several province well command, Would all but stoop to what they understand. Pope.
  2. Diverse; different; various. Spenser.
    Habits and faculties, several, and to be distinguished. Bacon.
    Four several armies to the field are led. Dryden.
  3. Consisting of a number more than two, but not very many; divers; sundry; as, several persons were present when the event took place.
Sev"er*al adverb
Definitions
  1. By itself; severally. Obs.
    Every kind of thing is laid up several in barns or storehoudses. Robynson (More's Utopia).
Sev"er*al noun
Definitions
  1. Each particular taken singly; an item; a detail; an individual. Obs.
    There was not time enough to hear . . . The severals. Shak.
  2. Persons oe objects, more than two, but not very many.
    Several of them neither rose from any conspicuous family, nor left any behind them. Addison.
  3. An inclosed or separate place; inclosure. Obs.
    They had their several for heathen nations, their several for the people of their own nation. Hooker.
    Tusser.

Webster 1913