各自分開的，與由此來的「幾個」
登入就可以看這一支怎麼連回核心畫面。
separate/respective · adjective · A2
Separate and different; belonging to each one of a group on their own.
各自的
The root idea under 'several' is 'separate — each one its own, distinct from the rest'. Picture a handful of items laid out side by side, each standing apart as its own unit. From that picture of distinct separate ones came the everyday meaning: 'several' = a number of those separate ones — more than two, but not many. So although the common modern use is the counting one ('a few'), its root is the older 'separate / each distinct', which is why we still meet phrases like 'they went their several ways' (each their own way).
several 底層的想法可以想成「各自分開——每一個都是獨立的一個，跟其餘的不一樣」。畫面比較像桌上並排擺著幾樣東西，每樣都自成一個、彼此分開。正是從這「一個個分開的個體」的畫面，長出了日常的意思：several = 這些分開的個體有「好幾個」——比兩個多，但又不算多。所以雖然現代最常見的是「幾個」這個數量用法，它的根其實是較舊的「各自的、各別的」，也因此我們還會看到 they went their several ways（各走各的路）這種說法。
From the word’s history
From Anglo-French 'several', from Medieval Latin 'separalis', from Latin 'separ' (separate, distinct). The original sense is 'separate, each its own'; the counting sense 'a few' developed from 'a number of separate individual ones'.
源自盎格魯-法語 several，來自中世紀拉丁文 separalis，再上溯拉丁文 separ（分開的、各別的）。最初的意思是「各自分開、各有各的」；後來才從「好幾個分開的個體」發展出「幾個」這個數量意思。
etymonline / Merriam-Webster (Latin separ 'separate')
One branch
原始詞典資料9 筆記錄
以下是外部詞典記錄的用法，摘錄並精簡格式，我們還沒有寫成教學內容。上面的說明才是我們自己寫的；有些用法可能上面已經講過了。
severaladj/ˈsɛv.(ə.)ɹəl/
- 1
obsoleteSeparate, distinct; particular.
- Here is the will, and under Caesar's seal. To every Roman citizen he gives, to every several man, seventy-five drachmas.
- He had a religion apart: a God severall unto himselfe, whom his subjects might no waies adore.
- 2
A number of different; various.
- […]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[…].
- habits and faculties, several, and to be distinguished
- 3
lawSeparable, capable of being treated separately.
severaldet/ˈsɛv.(ə.)ɹəl/
- 1
Consisting of a number more than one (especially, more than two) but not very many.
- The firm turns over several million a month.
- Several cars were in the parking lot.
severaladv/ˈsɛv.(ə.)ɹəl/
- 1
By itself; severally.
- Every kind of thing is laid up several in barns or storehouses.
severalnoun/ˈsɛv.(ə.)ɹəl/
- 1
obsoleteAn area of land in private ownership (as opposed to common land).
- 2
Each particular taken singly; an item; a detail; an individual.
- 3
archaicAn enclosed or separate place; enclosure.
- 4
archaicA woman's loose outer garment, capable of being worn as a shawl, or in other forms.
摘錄自 英文維基詞典 English Wiktionary，已精簡格式；依 CC BY-SA 4.0 授權使用，改動後的內容同樣以此授權提供。