severalty

noun

sev·​er·​al·​ty ˈse-və-rəl-tē 

ˈsev-rəl-tē

1

: the quality or state of being several : distinctness, separateness

2

a

: a sole, separate, and exclusive possession, dominion, or ownership : one's own right without a joint interest in any other person

tenants in severalty

b

: the quality or state of being individual or particular

3

a

: land owned in severalty

b

: the quality or state of being held in severalty

Word History

Etymology

Middle English severalte, from Anglo-French severalté, from several

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Legal Definition

severalty

noun

sev·​er·​al·​ty ˈse-vrəl-tē, ˈse-və-rəl- 

1

: sole, separate, and exclusive ownership : one's own right without a joint interest in another person

agrees to assign the lease, or some portion of it (in common or in severalty) to another operator

—Pacific Enterprises Oil Co. v. Pacific Petroleum Corp., 614 So. 2d 409 (1993)

held the estate in severalty

2

: the quality or state of being individual, particular, or several

Etymology

Anglo-French severalté separation, individual ownership, from several separate, several