- separate (v.)
- 1393 (implied in separable), from L. separatus, pp. of separare "to pull apart," from se- "apart" (see secret) + parare "make ready, prepare" (see pare). Sever (q.v.) is a doublet, via French. The adj. meaning "detached, kept apart" is first recorded 1600, from the pp. used as an adjective. Separates "articles of (women's) clothing that may be worn in various combinations" is attested from 1945. Separatism (1628) and separatist (1608) were first used in religious sense. Separate but equal in ref. to U.S. segregation policies on railroads is attested from 1890. Separate development, official name of apartheid in South Africa, is from 1955.