separate
Synonyms:
(verb) break (up), decouple, disassociate, disconnect, disengage, disjoin, disjoint, dissever, dissociate, disunite, divide, divorce, part, ramify, resolve, sever, split, sunder, uncouple, unlink, unyoke.
(adj) different, discrete, independent, individual, isolated, respective, secluded, severed, unattached.
Related Words:
(verb) detach.
(adj) autonomous, distinct, diverse, free, independent, isolated, particular, single, sovereign, unique, various.
Antonyms:
(verb) connect, join, link, unify, unite.
(adj) same.
Synonym Study 1 (verb) (Dictionary.com):
Separate and divide imply a putting apart or keeping apart of things from each other.
To separate is to remove from each other things previously associated:
to separate a mother from her children.
To divide is to split or break up carefully according to measurement, rule, or plan:
to divide a cake into equal parts.
Synonym Study 2 (verb) (Merriam-Webster):
Separate, part, divide, sever, sunder, and divorce mean to become or cause to become disunited or disjointed.
Separate may imply any of several causes such as dispersion, removal of one from others, or presence of an intervening thing:
separated her personal life from her career.
Part implies the separating of things or persons in close union or association:
vowed never to part.
Divide implies separating into pieces or sections by cutting or breaking:
civil war divided the nation.
Sever implies violence especially in the removal of a part or member:
a severed limb.
Sunder suggests violent rending or wrenching apart:
a city sundered by racial conflict.
Divorce implies separating two things that commonly interact and belong together:
cannot divorce scientific research from moral responsibility.
Synonym Study 3 (Merriam-Webster):
Distinct, separate, and discrete mean not being each and every one the same.
Distinct indicates that something is distinguished by the mind or eye as being apart or different from others:
two distinct versions.
Separate often stresses lack of connection or a difference in identity between two things:
separate rooms.
Discrete strongly emphasizes individuality and lack of connection:
broke the job down into discrete stages.
Origin:
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English (noun and adjective), from Latin sēparātus (past participle of sēparāre), equivalent to sē-se- + par(āre) “to furnish, produce, obtain,” + -ātus;see prepare -ate1. Dictionary 2: C15: from Latin sēparāre, from sē- apart + parāre to obtain. —Dictionary.com. //
First Known Use of separate: Verb: 15th century. Adjective: 15th century. Noun: 1886. History and Etymology for separate: Verb, Adjective, and Noun: Middle English, from Latin separatus, past participle of separare, from se- apart + parare to prepare, procure — more at secede, pare. —Merriam-Webster.
Sources: 1, 2.
(verb) break (up), decouple, disassociate, disconnect, disengage, disjoin, disjoint, dissever, dissociate, disunite, divide, divorce, part, ramify, resolve, sever, split, sunder, uncouple, unlink, unyoke.
(adj) different, discrete, independent, individual, isolated, respective, secluded, severed, unattached.
Related Words:
(verb) detach.
(adj) autonomous, distinct, diverse, free, independent, isolated, particular, single, sovereign, unique, various.
Antonyms:
(verb) connect, join, link, unify, unite.
(adj) same.
Synonym Study 1 (verb) (Dictionary.com):
Separate and divide imply a putting apart or keeping apart of things from each other.
To separate is to remove from each other things previously associated:
to separate a mother from her children.
To divide is to split or break up carefully according to measurement, rule, or plan:
to divide a cake into equal parts.
Synonym Study 2 (verb) (Merriam-Webster):
Separate, part, divide, sever, sunder, and divorce mean to become or cause to become disunited or disjointed.
Separate may imply any of several causes such as dispersion, removal of one from others, or presence of an intervening thing:
separated her personal life from her career.
Part implies the separating of things or persons in close union or association:
vowed never to part.
Divide implies separating into pieces or sections by cutting or breaking:
civil war divided the nation.
Sever implies violence especially in the removal of a part or member:
a severed limb.
Sunder suggests violent rending or wrenching apart:
a city sundered by racial conflict.
Divorce implies separating two things that commonly interact and belong together:
cannot divorce scientific research from moral responsibility.
Synonym Study 3 (Merriam-Webster):
Distinct, separate, and discrete mean not being each and every one the same.
Distinct indicates that something is distinguished by the mind or eye as being apart or different from others:
two distinct versions.
Separate often stresses lack of connection or a difference in identity between two things:
separate rooms.
Discrete strongly emphasizes individuality and lack of connection:
broke the job down into discrete stages.
Origin:
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English (noun and adjective), from Latin sēparātus (past participle of sēparāre), equivalent to sē-se- + par(āre) “to furnish, produce, obtain,” + -ātus;see prepare -ate1. Dictionary 2: C15: from Latin sēparāre, from sē- apart + parāre to obtain. —Dictionary.com. //
First Known Use of separate: Verb: 15th century. Adjective: 15th century. Noun: 1886. History and Etymology for separate: Verb, Adjective, and Noun: Middle English, from Latin separatus, past participle of separare, from se- apart + parare to prepare, procure — more at secede, pare. —Merriam-Webster.
Sources: 1, 2.