They shook hands and went their several ways (=went in different directions).severalseveral2 adjective [only before noun, no comparative] formal 
They shook hands and went their several ways (=went in different directions).—severally adverb: These issues can be considered severally, or as a whole.
WORD ORIGINseveral2
Origin:
1400-1500 Anglo-French, Medieval Latin separalis, from Latin separare; ➔ SEPARATE2EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Business partners have a joint and several liability where taxes are concerned.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY They shook hands and went their several ways (=went in different directions).COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
They shook hands and went their several ways (=went in different directions).· He has helped me on several occasions.
· More than eight inches of snow fell in 48 hours.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► keep several/too many etc balls in the air► have several irons in the fire
different and separate SYN respective: - Bright was turned down on both counts by Field, whose principal consideration was the weather.
- By contrast, Gordon says, the Net fails on several counts.
- He had failed on both counts.
- He was convicted by a jury on all counts and sentenced to 41 months in prison.
- He was too ambitious on both counts.
- I am afraid that, on all counts, it is going to fall down.
- I find this unconvincing on several counts.
- Missing Valuables Dear Missing: Yes, on both counts.
They shook hands and went their several ways (=went in different directions).—severally adverb: These issues can be considered severally, or as a whole.