Severance
/ˈsɛv.ər.əns/noun
The act of ending or separating something; compensation paid when employment ends.
Did you know?Its deepest ancestor is the same PIE root behind Latin *separare* and English *separate*, carrying the original idea of pulling things apart into distinct pieces.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*sek-
“to cut”
Latin
Latin
severare
“to sever, cut apart”
Late Latin
Latin
severantia
“a severing or cutting off”
Old French
Old French
severance
“separation, division”
Middle English
English
severaunce
“separation, division”
Modern English
English
severance
“the act of ending or separating, especially employment termination pay”