dissever

Meanings

1. 1verbtransitiveliteraryarchaic

   To cut or split something apart completely, usually in a way that cannot be undone.

   Grammar: Takes an object: dissever the bond. It is mainly found in older or literary writing.

   Patterns

   • dissever something
   • dissever something from something

   The storm threatened to dissever the island from the mainland.

   In the old poem, death dissevers the lovers.

   The quarrel dissevered the two branches of the family.

2. 2verbtransitive or intransitiveliteraryrare

   To divide a thing into separate parts or portions.

   Grammar: Can have an object or stand alone: the rock dissevered into pieces.

   Patterns

   • dissever into something

   The land was dissevered into small farms.

   The great estate dissevered after the old owner died.

Word forms

Common combinations

dissever from

The rift dissevered the colony from its homeland.

dissever the bond

Nothing could dissever the bond between them.

dissever the ties

The treaty dissevered the ties of old loyalty.

forever dissevered

The two kingdoms were forever dissevered.

Synonyms and how they differ

sever

Sever is the common word and keeps the same meaning, but it sounds far less old-fashioned than dissever.

sunder

Sunder is also literary, and it suggests a violent or forceful split.

separate

Separate is neutral and ordinary, and the split does not need to be total or permanent.

divide

Divide describes splitting into parts, and it need not suggest a final break.

Opposites

Word family

sever verb

to cut off or end completely

severance noun

the act of cutting off a relationship, or payment on leaving a job

several adjective

from the same old root meaning separate, now meaning more than two

disseverance noun

a rare word for complete separation

Commonly confused: dissever or sever?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “dissever”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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