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separate

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separate¹

  • /ˈsɛp.əˌɹeɪt/ Canada, US
  • /ˈsɛpˌɹeɪt/ Canada, US
  • /ˈsɛp.ɚˌeɪt/ Canada, US
  • /ˈsɛp.əˌɹæɪt/ Australia, New Zealand

Rhymes with -ɛpəɹeɪt

Where it comes from

From Middle English separaten (“to separate”), from separat (“separated”) + -en, from Latin sēparātus, perfect passive participle of sēparō (“to separate”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from sē- (“apart”) + parō (“prepare”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *per- (“produce, procure, bring forward, bring forth”). Displaced Middle English scheden, from Old English scēadan (whence English shed).

Doublet of sever, also derived from the same Latin verb.

verb separates · separating · separated · seperate

  1. transitive To divide (a thing) into separate parts. Separate the articles from the headings.
  2. transitive To disunite from a group or mass; to disconnect. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
  3. transitive To cause (things or people) to be separate. If the kids get too noisy, separate them for a few minutes.
  4. intransitive To divide itself into separate pieces or substances. The sauce will separate if you don't keep stirring.
  5. obsolete To set apart; to select from among others, as for a special use or service. Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.

separate²

  • /ˈsɛp.əˌɹeɪt/ Canada, US
  • /ˈsɛpˌɹeɪt/ Canada, US
  • /ˈsɛp.ɚˌeɪt/ Canada, US
  • /ˈsɛp.əˌɹæɪt/ Australia, New Zealand

Rhymes with -ɛpəɹeɪt

Where it comes from

From Middle English separat, see -ate (“adjective-forming suffix”) and Etymology 1 for more.

adjective

  1. not comparable Apart from (the rest); not connected to or attached to (anything else). This chair can be disassembled into five separate pieces.
  2. not comparable Not together (with); not united (to). I try to keep my personal life separate from work.

Similar: detached, discrete, distinct, disparate, loose, separate, sundry, unattached, unannexed, unassociated, unconnected

separate³

  • /ˈsɛp.əˌɹeɪt/ Canada, US
  • /ˈsɛpˌɹeɪt/ Canada, US
  • /ˈsɛp.ɚˌeɪt/ Canada, US
  • /ˈsɛp.əˌɹæɪt/ Australia, New Zealand

Rhymes with -ɛpəɹeɪt

Where it comes from

From a substantivization of the above adjective, see -ate (“noun-forming suffix”) and Etymology 1 for more.

noun separates

  1. plural normally Anything that is sold by itself, especially articles of clothing such as blouses, skirts, jackets, and pants. French taffeta evening separates – a puffball skirt, and a ruffled blouse – were pressed flat to drag them up to date.
  2. A printing of an article from a periodical as its own distinct publication and distributed independently, often with different page numbers.

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