Exactly how many is several?

[Halliburton]

<snip>
The prosecutor, Patrick J. Fitzgerald, has held discussions in recent days with lawyers for several administration officials suggesting that he is considering whether to charge them with a crime over the disclosure of an intelligence operative's identity in a 2003 newspaper column.
<snip>

And what's this all about?
<snip>
Meanwhile, Mr. Fitzgerald has indicated that he is not entirely finished with Judith Miller, the reporter for The New York Times who recently testified before the grand jury after serving 85 days in jail. According to a lawyer familiar with the case, Mr. Fitzgerald has asked Ms. Miller to meet him next Tuesday to further discuss her conversations with I. Lewis Libby, the vice president's chief of staff.
<snip>

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/07/politics/07leak.html?hp&ex=1128657600&en=d524a7a0b669b7a7&ei=5094&partner=homepage

[jim3775]

1. "Being of a number more than two or three but not many"

http://www.answers.com/several&r=67

[Art_from_Ark]

7. So how many is "many"?

Or does it involve a bit of relativeness?

If 10 people are at a meeting, and 4 disagree to a proposal, would one say that "several" participants were in disagreement?

Now, if 100 people were at the meeting, and 4 people disagreed, would one say that "several" participants were in disagreement? Or would one say "a few" participants disagreed? (Of course, if the 4 disagreers were Republicans, the MSM would call them "a very significant number")

[Jersey Devil]

2. Fitz is running them into a frenzy!

This is so great! It's like when you get a bunch of kids who did something wrong into separate rooms and feed them stories about what the other kids said. Pretty soon it all comes apart.

This guy is the real thing.

[tgnyc]

3. More Judy? Fitz is really trying to put the hammer down on somebody.

[brainshrub]

4. I figure 3 to 5.

Perhaps as high as 10.

[crispini]

5. Judy on Tuesday.

Ok, so that means that no indictments definitely until next week.

I can stop holding my breath until, maybe, Thursday?

[unrepuke]

6. More than a few, a bunch more than any, but not many

[Mabus]

8. Alright, he's going Columbo on their asses

"There are a couple of loose ends I'd like to tie up. Nothing important you understand."
- Peter Falk as "Columbo" in Dead Weight (1971)

- oops meant as a reply to Jersey Devil

[NNN0LHI]

9. Judith is going to end up in a federal penitentiary before this is over nt

[Benhurst]

10. Soon to be seen in the HBO special

"Bitch Behind Bars."

[Incitatus]

11. "Exactly how many is several?"

In this particular situation, I would have to say several is not enough.

[MazeRat7]

12. Typically, more than two and less than 10. (n./t)

[jayctravis]

13. At least four. NINE...is RIGHT OUT.

I associate the word "several" with seven.

It's a wafflish seven. Down to five or four, but more than eight is an "array".

A number that would be rounded down to five or up to ten, but neither of those!

[MercutioATC]

17. Seven shall be the number of the counting and the number of the counting

shall be seven. Eight shalt thou not count, neither shalt thou count tsix, excepting that thou then proceedeth to seven.

Incidentally, I agree with "seven" for "several".

[Zynx]

14. I usually think five or seven.

[petronius]

15. Between 'a couple' and 'half a dozen'

So I think 3-5 is a good answer...

[TankLV]

16. More than "a few" and less than "many".

Hope that clears it all up!

I'm here all weak - try the buffet!