sever
sever
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for sever is /ˈsɛvər/.
sev: /sɛv/ - This syllable starts with the voiceless alveolar fricative /s/ (the 's' sound), followed by the vowel /ɛ/ (as in "bed"), and ends with the voiced labiodental fricative /v/ (the 'v' sound).
er: /ər/ - This syllable is an r-colored vowel, a combination of the schwa sound /ə/ and the /r/ sound, common in unstressed final syllables in American English.
Word Form Variations
As a verb, sever has the following forms:
Infinitive/Present: sever
Third-person singular present: severs
Past tense: severed
Past participle: severed
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Verb
(transitive) To cut through or slice off something, especially a part from a whole, often with force. ✂️
Synonyms: cut off, detach, cleave, amputate, dismember
Antonyms: attach, join, connect, unite, mend
(transitive) To end a connection, relationship, or communication completely and permanently.
Synonyms: break off, terminate, dissolve, cut ties, discontinue
Antonyms: establish, maintain, foster, continue, strengthen
Examples of Use
In News and Online Publications
The word is frequently used in journalism, especially in reports on diplomacy, business, and politics, often to describe the formal ending of a relationship.
"Taiwan severs diplomatic ties with Nauru after Pacific island nation recognizes China." (Reuters, January 2024)
"The company's board of directors voted unanimously to sever its relationship with the scandal-plagued marketing firm."
In Books and Literature
In literature, sever is often used for dramatic effect, both literally to describe physical separation and figuratively for emotional or social disconnection.
In J.R.R. Tolkien's The Fellowship of the Ring, the backstory of the One Ring involves a pivotal moment of conflict: "Isildur, Elendil's son, ... took up his father's sword, and with a last stroke of its shards he severed the Ring from Sauron's hand."
"She felt as though a cord, connecting her to her past and her family, had been violently severed, leaving her adrift."
In Entertainment
From dramatic movie scenes to the central premise of a TV show, sever is used to convey a definitive and often forceful separation.
In the Apple TV+ series Severance, employees undergo a surgical procedure that severs their work memories from their personal lives, creating two distinct consciousnesses in one body.
A common line in a medical drama might be: "The main artery was severed in the accident; we have to control the bleeding before we can move him."
In General Public Discourse
In everyday conversation, sever is almost always used metaphorically to describe the act of cutting off contact with a person, group, or idea.
"For the sake of my own well-being, I had to completely sever ties with my toxic ex-friend."
During a political debate, a candidate might declare: "It is time for our country to sever its economic dependence on hostile nations."
10 Famous Quotes Using Sever
“So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just.” (The Bible, Matthew 13:49, KJV)
“Henceforth I shall begin to exist, and to believe that I exist, when I shall have no longer any motive for wishing to sever myself from myself.” (Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Confessions)
“But I will sever the last link that binds me to my fellow-men.” (Mary Shelley, Frankenstein)
“It is for the world's sake that I must sever this thread, not for my own.” (Robert Jordan, The Eye of the World)
“Now, gods, stand up for bastards, and sever the bonds of this supposed marriage!” (William Shakespeare, King Lear)
“I could not sever myself from the monstrous identity of which I was a part.” (H.P. Lovecraft, The Shadow Over Innsmouth)
“Go now; I must sever this path before it leads to your destruction.” (Solas, Dragon Age: Inquisition)
“The wise leader does not only defeat an enemy, but learns to sever the very roots of the conflict.” (Original)
“To truly advance, you must be willing to sever the anchor of your own comfortable assumptions.” (Original)
“Let go of what you were; you must sever the thread to your former self to weave the tapestry of who you will become.” (Original)
Etymology
Think of the word's history like a family tree. The word "sever" we use in English today has direct ancestors in French and, ultimately, Latin.
The Latin Grandparent: The story begins in ancient Rome with the Latin word sēparāre. This word literally meant "to pull apart." It was formed by combining two pieces:
sē-, a prefix meaning "apart" (like in separate or seclude).
parāre, a verb meaning "to prepare" or "to arrange."
So, at its very core, the original Latin word meant "to arrange apart" from each other.The French Parent: As Latin evolved into French, sēparāre became the Old French word sevrer, which meant "to separate."
Arrival in English: The word jumped from French into English around the early 1300s. Its first known use in English carried a very direct and physical meaning: "to cut or break apart, often by force."
So, when the word first appeared, it was used almost exclusively in the literal sense, like severing a rope or a branch from a tree. The modern, more common use of severing ties, relationships, or connections is a metaphorical extension of that original, physical meaning of cutting something in two.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Sever
Common Phrases with 'Sever'
These are direct and widely understood phrases using the word and its variations.
To sever ties with someone or something.
To sever all contact.
To sever a relationship or connection.
To sever diplomatic relations.
To sever a limb or artery (literal/medical).
To sever the head from the body (literal).
To sever supply lines (military/strategic).
Figurative and Metaphorical Uses
These phrases use the concept of severing in a more abstract or poetic way.
To sever the last thread of hope.
To sever the root of a problem.
To sever the past from the future.
An action that severs the bonds of trust.
Idioms with a Similar Meaning
While not using the word 'sever', these common idioms convey a similar idea of cutting off a relationship or connection permanently.
To burn your bridges.
To cut the cord.
To pull the plug.
To wash your hands of someone.
To go your separate ways.
To cut someone loose.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of sever from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
