severally etymology

Etymology

The word "severally" derives from the Middle English term "severalli," which originated from the Old French word "several," meaning "separate" or "distinct." Ultimately, the term can be traced back to the Latin word "separalis," meaning "set apart."

Meaning

The term "severally" has two primary meanings:

1. Individually: When used in this sense, "severally" refers to actions or events that are carried out or experienced by each person or entity separately. For example, "The students worked severally on their projects."
2. Jointly and Individually: In legal contexts, "severally" can also mean that each person or entity is individually liable for a specific obligation, even though they are jointly responsible for the entire obligation. For example, in a contract, each party may be "severally liable" for their own actions, even if the contract is signed by all parties together.

Origin

The use of "severally" in the first sense of "individually" dates back to the 13th century. The term "several" was initially used to refer to individual possessions or rights. Over time, it came to be used to describe actions or events that were carried out by individual persons or entities.

The use of "severally" in the legal sense of "jointly and individually" developed later, likely in the 14th or 15th century. In legal documents, it became necessary to distinguish between obligations that were held jointly by all parties and those where each party was individually responsible. The term "severally" was used to designate the latter type of obligation.

severally relate terms

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