different between seldom vs several
seldom
English
Alternative forms
- seldome (obsolete)
Etymology
From late Middle English seldom, alteration of earlier selden, from Old English seldan (“seldom”), from Proto-Germanic *seldan?. Cognate with Saterland Frisian säilden (“seldom”), West Frisian selden, komselden (“rare, seldom”), Dutch zelden, German selten, Danish sjælden, Norwegian sjelden, Swedish sällan, Faroese sjáldan, Icelandic sjaldan. More at seld and selly.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /?s?ld?m/
Adverb
seldom (comparative more seldom or seldomer, superlative most seldom or seldomest)
- Infrequently, rarely.
- Synonyms: barely, hardly, rarely, scarcely, infrequently, seldomly; see also Thesaurus:occasionally
- Antonyms: often, frequently; see also Thesaurus:often
Usage notes
- It is grammatically a negative word. It therefore collocates with ever rather than never. Compare he seldom ever plays tennis with he almost never plays tennis.
- The form seldomly, derived from the (now archaic) adjectival use, exists, but has not gained widespread acceptance.
Derived terms
- seldom or ever
- seldomtimes
- unseldom
Translations
Adjective
seldom (comparative more seldom or seldomer, superlative most seldom or seldomest)
- (archaic) Rare; infrequent.
- Synonyms: geason, uncommon; see also Thesaurus:rare
- 1650, Jeremy Taylor, The Rule and Exercises of Holy Living
- a suppressed and seldom anger
Derived terms
- seldomly
- seldomness
Related terms
- seld
Translations
Anagrams
- lesdom, models, somdel
Middle English
Etymology 1
From Old English seldan.
Adverb
seldom
- Alternative form of selden (“seldom”)
Etymology 2
From Old English selden.
Adjective
seldom
- Alternative form of selden (“uncommon”)
seldom From the web:
- what seldom means
- what seldom visits sorrow
- what's seldom is wonderful meaning
- what's seldom is wonderful
- what seldom mean in tagalog
- what seldom means in portuguese
- seldom used meaning
- what seldom means in arabic
several
English
Alternative forms
- severall (obsolete)
Etymology
From Anglo-Norman several, from Medieval Latin s?par?lis, from Latin s?par (“separate”).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /?s?v(?)??l/
- Hyphenation: sev?er?al, seve?ral
Adjective
several (comparative more several, superlative most several)
- (obsolete) Separate, distinct; particular. [15th-19th century]
- 1599, William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar:
- Here is the will, and under Caesar's seal. To every Roman citizen he gives, to every several man, seventy-five drachmas.
- So one thing may be good and bad to several parties, upon diverse occasions.
- 1852, Washington Irving, Tales from the Alhambra:
- the hearts of the three cavaliers were completely captured, especially as gratitude was added to their admiration; it is a little singular, however, though no less certain, that each of them was enraptured with a several beauty.
- 1666, Dryden, Annus Mirabilis: The Year of Wonders
- Each several ship a victory did gain.
- 1711, Alexander Pope, An Essay on Criticism
- Each might his several province well command, / Would all but stoop to what they understand.
- 1599, William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar:
- A number of different; various. [from 16th century]
- 1610, The Tempest, by Shakespeare, act 3, scene 1
- […] for several virtues / Have I lik'd several women; never any / With so full soul but some defect in her / Did quarrel with the noblest grace she ow'd, / And put it to the foil […].
- early 1600s, Francis Bacon, Of Simulation and Dissimulation
- habits and faculties, several, and to be distinguished
- 1610, The Tempest, by Shakespeare, act 3, scene 1
- (law) Separable, capable of being treated separately.
Derived terms
- joint and several
Determiner
several
- Consisting of a number more than two but not very many. [from 17th century]
- Several cars were in the parking lot.
- They had many journals. I subscribed to several.
- Several of the members were absent.
- 1784, William Jones, The Description and Use of a New Portable Orrery, &c., preface:
- The favourable reception the Orrery has met with from Per?ons of the fir?t di?tinction, and from Gentlemen and Ladies in general, has induced me to add to it ?everal new improvements in order to give it a degree of Perfection; and di?tingui?h it from others ; which by Piracy, or Imitation, may be introduced to the Public.
- 2004, The Guardian, 6 November:
- Several people were killed and around 150 injured after a high-speed train hit a car on a level crossing and derailed tonight.
Usage notes
- Some dictionaries and many older grammars put several into the word class 'pronoun' in many of its uses.
Derived terms
- several states
- severally
Translations
See also
- sever
Adverb
several (not comparable)
- By itself; severally.
- 1551, Ralph Robinson (sometimes spelt Raphe Robynson) (translator), Utopia (originally written by Sir Thomas More)
- Every kind of thing is laid up several in barns or storehouses.
- 1551, Ralph Robinson (sometimes spelt Raphe Robynson) (translator), Utopia (originally written by Sir Thomas More)
Noun
several (plural severals)
- (obsolete) An area of land in private ownership (as opposed to common land).
- Each particular taken singly; an item; a detail; an individual. (Can we add an example for this sense?)
- (archaic) An enclosed or separate place; enclosure. (Can we add an example for this sense?)
- (archaic) A woman's loose outer garment, capable of being worn as a shawl, or in other forms.
Translations
References
- several at OneLook Dictionary Search
- several in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
Anagrams
- Leavers, laveers, leavers, reveals, vealers
Old French
Adjective
several m (oblique and nominative feminine singular severale)
- separate
Declension
Noun
several m (oblique plural severaus or severax or severals, nominative singular severaus or severax or severals, nominative plural several)
- one's own property or possession
Related terms
- sevrer
- desevrer
Descendants
- English: several
References
- several on the Anglo-Norman On-Line Hub
several From the web:
- what several means
- what several days mean
- what several weeks means
- what several months means
- what does several mean
- several define
- what is meant by several
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