separation

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   The act of dividing or keeping people or things apart, or the state of being apart.

   The long separation from her family was hard to bear.

2. 2
   noun

   The act of keeping things distinct or sorting one thing from another.

   The constitution requires the separation of church and state.

3. 3
   noun

   An arrangement in which a married couple lives apart while still legally married.

   After years of arguing, they agreed to a trial separation.

4. 4
   noun

   The distance or space between things.

   Fragile items require separation and cushioning during shipping.

Attested in the 15th Century C.E.; from Middle English separacioun, from Old French separacion, from Latin separatio, separationem. Morphologically separate + -ion.

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