sever

Where does the word "sever" come from? It comes from Latin separare, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

Sever’s story begins in Latin: separare meant “to separate.” The root of 'separate'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as sevrer. French 'sevrer' now means to wean. It reached English by 1300s as sever. 'severance pay' dates from the 1900s. Today, sever means to cut off.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient separare "to separate", the root of 'separate'.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval sevrer "to separate", French 'sevrer' now means to wean.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s sever "to separate", 'severance pay' dates from the 1900s.