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American Heritage Dictionary (2)

noun The cardinal number equal to 6 + 1.
noun The seventh in a set or sequence.

Century Dictionary (34)

One more than six; the sum of three and four: a cardinal numeral. Seven is a rare number in metrology, perhaps its only occurrences being in the seven handbreadths of the Egyptian cubit (for the probable explanation of which, see cubit), and in the seven days of the week, certainly early connected, at least, with the astrological assignment of the hours in regular rotation to the seven planets. This astrological association explains the identification by Pythagoras of the number seven with the opportune time (καιρός), as well as the fact that light was called seven by the Pythagoreans. That they termed it “motherless” may be due to the “seven spirits” of the Chaldeans—that is, the planets—being called “fatherless and motherless.” The astrological association further explains why the number seven has so frequently been suggested by the conception of divine or spiritual influence, and why it was made the number of intelligence by Philolaus. The common statement that seven implies perfection has no further foundation than that the cabalistic meanings of all odd numbers are modes of perfection. One is the first, and was with the Pythagoreans the number of essence (οὐσία). Two involves otherness, and was the number of opinion, “because of its diversity.” Three involves mediation, and was the number of beginning, middle, and end. Four naturally suggests a square, and so equity, and was commonly considered the number of justice; but it further carries the suggestion of system, and often has that signification. Five connects itself with the five fingers, used in counting, and thus is an ordinary synecdoche for a small group (“Five of you shall chase an hundred”—Lev. xxvi. 8); but the Pythagoreans, for some unknown reason, made it the number of marriage. Six played an important part in the sexagesimal system of the Chaldeans; but its Pythagorean meaning is doubtful. In the Apocalypse 666 is the number of the beast. Eight, being the first cube, would naturally suggest solidity; but according to Dr. Wordsworth it is the dominical or resurrection number. Nine, or three triads, was the number of the great gods of Egypt, and was considered efficient in all magical operations. Ten, for reasons connected with the history of the Pythagorean brotherhood, was consid ered by them as the great number of power. To eleven no particular significance is attached. Twelve was important in the Chaldean division of the circle, and was the number of the great gods. Thirteen, according to Dr. Mahan, is the number of schism. Seven was formerly used generally and vaguely to indicate a large number. I can then thanke Sensuall Apetyte; That is the best daunce without a pype That I saw this seven yere. Interlude of the Four Elements, n. d. (Halliwell.) And thou shalt number seven sabbaths of years unto thee, seven times seven years. Lev. xxv. 8. Tears seven times salt Burn out the sense and virtue of mine eye! Shak., Hamlet, iv. 5. 154.
Case of the seven bishops. See bishop.
Seven-branched candlestick. See candlestick.

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And it was in disagreement with seven -- seven, count them, seven experiments. — Murray Gell-Mann on beauty and truth in physics
Video: That's what we call the seven minutes of terror. — Charles Elachi on the Mars Rovers
It's what he calls the seven stages of a mythic adventure. — Stewart Brand on the Long Now
Number five of the seven is the payoff. — Stewart Brand on the Long Now
Bloody Tomas, without kin, without family, without even a surname, had disappeared in plain sight After several years of investigation, the Americans gave up and decided they could not determine which of the seven was the real Tomas. — FSF, July 2006

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Etymologies (2)

American Heritage Dictionary (1)

Middle English, from Old English seofon; see septm̥ in Indo-European roots.

Century Dictionary (1)

Early modern English also; seaven; from Middle English seven, sevene, seoven, seofen, seve, seove, seofe, from Anglo-Saxon seofon, seofone = Old Saxon sibun, sivun = OFries. soven, saven, savn, siugun, sigun, sogen = Middle Dutch seven, Dutch zeven = Middle Low German Low German seven = OHO. sibun, Middle High German siben, German sieben = Icelandic sjau, modern sjö = Swedish sju = Danish syv = Goth, sibun = Latin septem ( later Italian sette = Spanish siete = Portuguese sete, sette = Provencal set = Old French set, sept, French sept) = Greek έπτά = Welsh saith = Gaelic Seachd = Irish seacht, seven, = Old Bulgarian sebd- in *sebdmŭ, sedmŭ, seventh, sedmi, seven, = Bohemian sedm = Polish siedm = ORuss. seme, sedmi, Russian semĭ = Lithuanian septīni = Lett, septini = Zend hapta = Sanskrit saptan, seven: ulterior origin unknown.

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