Sever
Defined in 7 dictionaries — Cyclopedic (1922), Ballentine's (1916), Bouvier (1914), Black's (1910), Kinney (1893), Anderson (1889), Abbott (1879)
The Cyclopedic Law Dictionary
Walter A. Shumaker and George Foster Longsdorf; ed. James C. Cahill · 1922
In practice. To separate; to Insist upon a plea distinct from that of other codefendants. by two or more persons separately, each binding himself for the whole; a several action is one in which two or more persons are separately charged; a several inheritance is one conveyed so as to descend or come to two persons separately by moieties. "Several" is usually opposed to "joint."
Ballentine's Law Dictionary
James A. Ballentine · 1916
Bouvier's Law Dictionary and Concise Encyclopedia
John Bouvier; revised by Francis Rawle · 1914
In Practice. To separate; to insist upon a plea distinct from that of other co-defendants.
Black's Law Dictionary
Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910
A Law Dictionary and Glossary
George C. Kinney · 1893
To separate or divide, as to separate in pleading.
A Dictionary of Law
William C. Anderson · 1889
To separate, divide, disjoin. Co-defendants may either all plead jointly the same defease, or each may plead a separate defense. The latter course is termed " severing " and '* severance." Severable. Susceptible of separation; admitting of distinct division, or of independent existence or maintenance: as, a severable — consideration, covenant, contract, g. v. As to severing crops from realty, see Crop; Emblement; Fructus. Several. (1) Separated, separate; distinct; individual: as, a sevei:al — action, covenant or obligation, fishery, plea. Opposed, joint, q. V. Compare Sep abate, 3; Divers. A testator directed that his property should be divided after the " several " deaths of persons named. Held, that several v^as not synonymous with " respective; " that the division was to be postponed until all the persons had died.* (3) More than two, but not many. In a case in Alabama, six to seven hundred was held included in " several " hundred dollars — the recommended limit of credit to a retailer of groceries.^ May mean all, as, " my several children," used in a will." Severalty. He that holds lands in severalty, or is sole occupant thereof, is he that holds them in his own right only, without any other person being joined or connected with him in point of interest, during his estate therein... Also termed a " several tenancy." ' 1 See 2 Story, Eq. §§ 1404-8, 1403; 3 Pomeroy, Eq. §§ 1114 et seq. 2 [1 Steph. Com. 333. 3 [2 Washb. E. P. 358. * Colton V. Fox, 67 N. T. 352 (1876). ' Einstein v. Marshall, 58 Ala. 163, 164 (1877). Unless expressly declared otherwise, all estates are supposed to be of this sort.' Conapa,re Entirety. See Partition.
Dictionary of Terms and Phrases Used in American or English Jurisprudence
Benjamin Vaughan Abbott · 1879
See Severance.