sever
- 01 C1 Advanced
to cut through something completely so that it is no longer attached.
to separate a part from a whole by cutting or using sudden force. Transitive — requires a direct object.
Simple“The worker accidentally severed the power cable while digging in the garden.”
In context“The surgeon was forced to sever the damaged nerve to prevent the spread of the infection to the rest of the limb.”
- 02 C1 Advanced
to end a connection or relationship with someone or something completely.
to break off or terminate a relationship, connection, or association abruptly and permanently.
Simple“The company decided to sever all ties with the supplier after the scandal.”
In context“Following the diplomatic dispute, the two nations moved to sever formal relations and recalled their ambassadors immediately.”
Synonyms - 03 C2 Proficiency
to separate a legal claim or a joint ownership into parts.
to divide or separate a legal interest, such as a joint tenancy or a combined court case. Often used in the context of property law or criminal proceedings.
Simple“The judge decided to sever the two cases so they could be tried separately.”
In context“The co-owners acted to sever the joint tenancy, effectively converting their shared interest into a tenancy in common.”
Antonyms
“In 2016, Almodóvar adapted three stories from Munro’s collection Runaway into his film Julieta; one of those stories, Silence, describes a woman who severs contact with her mother, as Munro’s daughter had done.”
“And as landslides sever access roads and supplies dwindle in several parts of the island, there are growing concerns about how much longer survivors can hold out.”
From Middle English severen, from Old French sevrer, from Latin separāre (“to separate”), from se- (“apart”) + parāre (“provide, arrange”). Doublet of separate, from the past participle of that Latin verb.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.