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Sever vs Withdraw - What's the difference?

sever | withdraw | Related terms |

In transitive terms the difference between sever and withdraw

is that sever is to cut free while withdraw is to extract (money from an account).

In intransitive terms the difference between sever and withdraw

is that sever is to make a separation or distinction; to distinguish while withdraw is to be in withdrawal from an addictive drug etc.

sever

English

Verb

(en verb)
  • To cut free.
  • After he graduated, he severed all links to his family.
    to sever the head from the body
  • * Bible, Matthew xiii. 49
  • The angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just.
  • To suffer disjunction; to be parted or separated.
  • (Shakespeare)
  • To make a separation or distinction; to distinguish.
  • The Lord shall sever between the cattle of Israel and the cattle of Egypt. — Ex. ix. 4.
    They claimed the right of severing in their challenge. — Macaulay.
  • (legal) To disunite; to disconnect; to terminate.
  • to sever an estate in joint tenancy
    (Blackstone)

    Synonyms

    * becut * cut off

    Derived terms

    * severable * severally

    Anagrams

    * * * ----

    withdraw

    English

    Verb

  • To pull (something) back, aside, or away.
  • * Hooker
  • Impossible it is that God should withdraw his presence from anything.
  • To take back (a comment, etc).
  • to withdraw false charges
  • To remove, to stop providing (one's support, etc).
  • To extract (money from an account).
  • To retreat.
  • To be in withdrawal from an addictive drug etc.
  • * 1994 , (Edward St Aubyn), Bad News , Picador 2006, p. 201:
  • Simon had tried to rob a bank while he was withdrawing , but he had been forced to surrender to the police after they had fired several volleys at him.