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

Example Sentences

To dissever them without injury to the written spaces was by no means easy.

From Arthur Mervyn Or, Memoirs of the Year 1793 by Brown, Charles Brockden

We are not, however, entitled, on this account, to dissever his prophecies, and to assign particular discourses to the reign of each of these kings.

From Christology of the Old Testament: And a Commentary on the Messianic Predictions, Vol. 1 by Hengstenberg, Ernst Wilhelm

The flesh does not conjoin, but dissever; although through its very severance it suggests a shadow of the union which it cannot bestow.

From Human Personality and its Survival of Bodily Death by Myers, F. W. H. (Frederic William Henry)

“The handkerchief is parted now,    Ye have parted us for good and ever, But whilst with life our breasts shall glow    Our love ye shall dissever never.”

From Axel Thordson and Fair Valborg a ballad by Borrow, George Henry

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