dissever

American  

[dih-sev-er] / dɪˈsɛv ər /

verb (used with object)

1. to sever; separate.

2. to divide into parts.

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verb (used without object)

1. to part; separate.

dissever British  

/ dɪˈsɛvə /

verb

1. to break off or become broken off

2. (tr) to divide up into parts

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Other Word Forms

• disseverance noun
• disseveration noun
• disseverment noun
• undissevered adjective

Etymology

Origin of dissever

1250–1300; Middle English des ( s ) everen < Old French dessevrer < Late Latin dissēparāre, equivalent to Latin dis- dis- ¹ + sēparāre to separate

Explanation

To dissever is to separate or divide something. If you spend too much time staring at screens, you might want to dissever yourself from technology and go camping this weekend. These days, the verb dissever is considered old-fashioned or primarily literary — you're more likely to use words like sever or detach. It can be useful if you need a more poetic way to talk about dividing things, though: "Don't go to Maine for the summer; I can't bear to dissever my heart from yours!" Dissever comes from a Latin root, separare, "to pull apart."

Example Sentences

But the check is for a time—the gap and chasm does not dissever.

From Dante. An essay. To which is added a translation of De Monarchia. by Church, R. W. (Richard William)

Mistress Hutchinson thus helped to dissever Church and State, and to found religious freedom in the United States.

From History of Woman Suffrage, Volume I by Stanton, Elizabeth Cady

This is not the type of anecdote which looms large in the volumes of "minced saints" prepared for pious readers, and its absence has accustomed us to dissever humour from sanctity.

From Americans and Others by Repplier, Agnes

Still shall the valour, love, and truth, That shone on Scotland's early youth, From Scotland ne'er dissever; The Shamrock, Rose, and Thistle stern Shall wave around her Wallace cairn, And bless the brave for ever!

From The Modern Scottish Minstrel, Volume V. The Songs of Scotland of the Past Half Century by Rogers, Charles

So the man was able to dissever the ghastly head and thus to slay the monstrous dragon.

From Tales of Fantasy and Fact by Matthews, Brander