sever

Sever is a verb meaning to divide by cutting, to detach, or to end involvement with something or someone. It can refer to a physical action, such as severing a cable or a limb, or to a non-physical action, such as severing ties with an organization or terminating a project. As a transitive verb, sever typically takes a direct object: "to sever a connection" or "to sever a relationship." In everyday usage, sever is often followed by nouns like ties, links, or bonds.

Etymology and usage: The word comes from Latin separare, via Old French severer, and has been part of English since the Middle Ages. It conveys deliberate separation rather than accidental damage. In legal and contract contexts, severing a clause or severability clause means removing or isolating a provision so the rest of the document remains valid.

Related terms: severance (the act or amount of severing; severance pay), severable (capable of being severed), severability (the quality of being severable). The past participle severed describes something that has already been cut or detached, as in "the severed limb" or "the severed connection."