sever

verb sev·er \ˈse-vər\

: to cut off (something) : to remove or separate (something) by cutting

: to end (a relationship, connection, etc.) completely

sev·eredsev·er·ing \ˈsev-riŋ, ˈse-və-\

Full Definition of SEVER

transitive verb

: to put or keep apart : divide; especially : to remove (as a part) by or as if by cutting

intransitive verb

: to become separated

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Origin of SEVER

Middle English, from Anglo-French severer, from Latin separare — more at separate

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to SEVER

Synonyms: break up, decouple, disassociate, disconnect, disjoin, disjoint, dissever, dissociate, disunite, divide, divorce, part, ramify, resolve, separate, split, sunder, uncouple, unlink, unyoke

Antonyms: join, link, unify, unite

Synonym Discussion of SEVER

separate, part, divide, sever, sunder, divorce mean to become or cause to become disunited or disjointed. separate may imply any of several causes such as dispersion, removal of one from others, or presence of an intervening thing <separated her personal life from her career>. part implies the separating of things or persons in close union or association <vowed never to part>. divide implies separating into pieces or sections by cutting or breaking <civil war divided the nation>. sever implies violence especially in the removal of a part or member <a severed limb>. sunder suggests violent rending or wrenching apart <a city sundered by racial conflict>. divorce implies separating two things that commonly interact and belong together <cannot divorce scientific research from moral responsibility>.