separverunt

Separverunt is a Latin verb form derived from the verb separare, meaning to separate or detach. It is commonly understood as the third-person plural perfect active indicative. In standard Classical Latin, the preferred spelling is separaverunt, formed from separa- (the stem) plus the perfect ending -verunt (historically -averunt). The form separverunt is a documented variant found in some manuscripts or inscriptions, where the vowel a is omitted in the course of scribal transmission. In most linguistic and lexicographic contexts, separaverunt is treated as the primary form, with separverunt noted as a contracted or orthographic variant.

Morphology and formation: from separare, the present stem is separa-, and the perfect active indicative ending for 3rd person plural is -verunt, yielding separaverunt in standard spelling. The contractions leading to separverunt involve elision or simplification of the -a- syllable, a phenomenon known from other Latin verb forms as well. Despite the orthographic difference, the meaning remains “they separated” or “they have separated,” depending on the surrounding tense and context.

Usage and attestations: separaverunt is attested across Latin literature, from the late Classical period onward. The contracted form separverunt appears sporadically in medieval manuscripts or inscriptions, reflecting transmission practices rather than different syntax or meaning. Both forms convey the same action completed by multiple subjects and are interchangeable in translation, with the choice of spelling determined by manuscript tradition or editorial convention.

See also: separare, separaverunt, Latin verbs, Latin morphology.