- 1to cut something into two pieces; to cut something off something sever something to sever a rope a severed artery sever something from something His hand was severed from his arm.
- 2sever something to completely end a relationship or all communication with somebody synonym break off The two countries have severed all diplomatic links. She has severed all contact with her family. Word OriginMiddle English: from Anglo-Norman French severer, from Latin separare ‘separate, divide’.
sever
verbBrE BrE//ˈsevə(r)//; NAmE NAmE//ˈsevər//
(formal)Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they sever BrE BrE//ˈsevə(r)//; NAmE NAmE//ˈsevər//
he / she / it severs BrE BrE//ˈsevəz//; NAmE NAmE//ˈsevərz//
past simple severed BrE BrE//ˈsevəd//; NAmE NAmE//ˈsevərd//
past participle severed BrE BrE//ˈsevəd//; NAmE NAmE//ˈsevərd//
-ing form severing BrE BrE//ˈsevərɪŋ//; NAmE NAmE//ˈsevərɪŋ//
Check pronunciation: sever
