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v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Asseverated p. pr. & vb. n. Asseverating ] [ L. asseveratus, p. p. of asseverare to assert seriously or earnestly; ad + severus. See Severe. ] To affirm or aver positively, or with solemnity. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To affirm; aver; protest; declare. See Affirm. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. asseveratio. ] The act of asseverating, or that which is asseverated; positive affirmation or assertion; solemn declaration. [ 1913 Webster ]

Another abuse of the tongue I might add, -- vehement asseverations upon slight and trivial occasions. Ray. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Characterized by asseveration; asserting positively. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Asseverative. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Dissevered p. pr. & vb. n. Dissevering. ] [ OE. dessevrer; pref. des- (L. dis-) + sevrer to sever, F. sevrer to wean, L. separate to separate. In this word the prefix is intensive. See Dis-, and Sever. ] To part in two; to sever thoroughly; to sunder; to disunite; to separate; to disperse. [ 1913 Webster ]

The storm so dissevered the company . . . that most of therm never met again. Sir P. Sidney. [ 1913 Webster ]

States disserved, discordant, belligerent. D. Webster. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To part; to separate. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. dessevrance. ] The act of disserving; separation. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act of disserving; disseverance. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. OF. dessevrement. ] Disseverance. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Not persevering; fickle; thoughtless. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Incapable of being severed; indivisible; inseparable. De Quincey. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To persevere. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. persévérance, L. perseverantia. ] 1. The act of persevering; persistence in anything undertaken; continued pursuit or prosecution of any business, or enterprise begun. “The king-becoming graces . . . perseverance, mercy, lowliness.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Whose constant perseverance overcame
Whate'er his cruel malice could invent. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Discrimination. [ Obs. ] Sir J. Harrington. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Theol.) Continuance in a state of grace until it is succeeded by a state of glory; sometimes called final perseverance, and the perseverance of the saints. See Calvinism. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Persistence; steadfastness; constancy; steadiness; pertinacity. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. perseverans, -antis, p. pr.: cf. F. persévérant. ] Persevering. [ R. ] “Perseverant faith.” Whitby. -- Per`se*ver"ant*ly, adv. [R.] [1913 Webster]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Persevered p. pr. & vb. n. Persevering. ] [ F. persévérer, L. perseverare, fr. perseverus very strict; per + severus strict, severe. See Per-, and Severe. ] To persist in any business or enterprise undertaken; to pursue steadily any project or course begun; to maintain a purpose in spite of counter influences, opposition, or discouragement; not to give or abandon what is undertaken. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thrice happy, if they know
Their happiness, and persevere upright. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To Persevere, Continue, Persist. The idea of not laying aside is common to these words. Continue is the generic term, denoting simply to do as one has done hitherto. To persevere is to continue in a given course in spite of discouragements, etc., from a desire to obtain our end. To persist is to continue from a determination of will not to give up. Persist is frequently used in a bad sense, implying obstinacy in pursuing an unworthy aim. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Characterized by perseverance; persistent. -- Per`se*ver"ing*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Severed p. pr. & vb. n. Severing. ] [ OF. sevrer, severer, to separate, F. sevrer to wean, fr. L. separare. See Separate, and cf. Several. ] 1. To separate, as one from another; to cut off from something; to divide; to part in any way, especially by violence, as by cutting, rending, etc.; as, to sever the head from the body. [ 1913 Webster ]

The angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just. Matt. xiii. 49. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To cut or break open or apart; to divide into parts; to cut through; to disjoin; as, to sever the arm or leg. [ 1913 Webster ]

Our state can not be severed; we are one. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To keep distinct or apart; to except; to exempt. [ 1913 Webster ]

I will sever in that day the land of Goshen, in which my people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there. Ex. viii. 22. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Law) To disunite; to disconnect; to terminate; as, to sever an estate in joint tenancy. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To suffer disjunction; to be parted, or rent asunder; to be separated; to part; to separate. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To make a separation or distinction; to distinguish. [ 1913 Webster ]

The Lord shall sever between the cattle of Israel and the cattle of Egypt. Ex. ix. 4. [ 1913 Webster ]

They claimed the right of severing in their challenge. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Capable of being severed. Encyc. Dict. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ OF., fr. LL. separalis, fr. L. separ separate, different. See Sever, Separate. ] 1. Separate; distinct; particular; single. [ 1913 Webster ]

Each several ship a victory did gain. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

Each might his several province well command,
Would all but stoop to what they understand. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Diverse; different; various. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

Habits and faculties, several, and to be distinguished. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

Four several armies to the field are led. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Consisting of a number more than two, but not very many; divers; sundry; as, several persons were present when the event took place. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. By itself; severally. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Every kind of thing is laid up several in barns or storehoudses. Robynson (More's Utopia). [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. Each particular taken singly; an item; a detail; an individual. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

There was not time enough to hear . . .
The severals. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Persons oe objects, more than two, but not very many. [ 1913 Webster ]

Several of them neither rose from any conspicuous family, nor left any behind them. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. An inclosed or separate place; inclosure. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

They had their several for heathen nations, their several for the people of their own nation. Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

In several, in a state of separation. [ R. ] “Where pastures in several be.” Tusser. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Severalities Each particular taken singly; distinction. [ Obs. ] Bp. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To distinguish. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Separately; distinctly; apart from others; individually. [ 1913 Webster ]

There must be an auditor to check and revise each severally by itself. De Quincey. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A state of separation from the rest, or from all others; a holding by individual right. [ 1913 Webster ]

Forests which had never been owned in severalty. Bancroft. [ 1913 Webster ]

Estate in severalty (Law), an estate which the tenant holds in his own right, without being joined in interest with any other person; -- distinguished from joint tenancy, coparcenary, and common. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The act of severing, or the state of being severed; partition; separation. Milman. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Law) The act of dividing; the singling or severing of two or more that join, or are joined, in one writ; the putting in several or separate pleas or answers by two or more disjointly; the destruction of the unity of interest in a joint estate. Bouvier. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Compar. Severer superl. Severest. ] [ L. severus; perhaps akin to Gr. &unr_;&unr_;&unr_; awe, &unr_;&unr_;&unr_; revered, holy, solemn, Goth. swikns innocent, chaste: cf. F. sévère. Cf. Asseverate, Persevere. ] 1. Serious in feeling or manner; sedate; grave; austere; not light, lively, or cheerful. [ 1913 Webster ]

Your looks alter, as your subject does,
From kind to fierce, from wanton to severe. Waller. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Very strict in judgment, discipline, or government; harsh; not mild or indulgent; rigorous; as, severe criticism; severe punishment. “Custody severe.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Come! you are too severe a moraler. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Let your zeal, if it must be expressed in anger, be always more severe against thyself than against others. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Rigidly methodical, or adherent to rule or principle; exactly conformed to a standard; not allowing or employing unneccessary ornament, amplification, etc.; strict; -- said of style, argument, etc. “Restrained by reason and severe principles.” Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

The Latin, a most severe and compendious language. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Sharp; afflictive; distressing; violent; extreme; as, severe pain, anguish, fortune; severe cold. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Difficult to be endured; exact; critical; rigorous; as, a severe test. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Strict; grave; austere; stern; morose; rigid; exact; rigorous; hard; rough; harsh; censorious; tart; acrimonious; sarcastic; satirical; cutting; biting; keen; bitter; cruel. See Strict. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- Se*vere"ly, adv. -- Se*vere"ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Severities [ L. severitas: cf. F. sévérité. ] The quality or state of being severe. Specifically: -- [ 1913 Webster ]

(a) Gravity or austerity; extreme strictness; rigor; harshness; as, the severity of a reprimand or a reproof; severity of discipline or government; severity of penalties. “Strict age, and sour severity.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

(b) The quality or power of distressing or paining; extreme degree; extremity; intensity; inclemency; as, the severity of pain or anguish; the severity of cold or heat; the severity of the winter. [ 1913 Webster ]

(c) Harshness; cruel treatment; sharpness of punishment; as, severity practiced on prisoners of war. [ 1913 Webster ]

(d) Exactness; rigorousness; strictness; as, the severity of a test. [ 1913 Webster ]

Confining myself to the severity of truth. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Prob. corrupted fr. ciborium. Oxf. Gloss. ] (Arch.) A bay or compartment of a vaulted ceiling. [ Written also civery. ] [ 1913 Webster ]