1. [n]  the cardinal number that is the sum of six and one
2. [adj]  being one more than six

1. \Sev"en\, a. [OE. seven, seoven, seofen, AS. seofon,
   seofan, seofen; akin to D. zeven, OS., Goth., & OHG. sibun,
   G. sieben, Icel. sjau, sj["o], Sw. sju, Dan. syv, Lith.
   septyni, Russ. seme, W. saith, Gael. seachd, Ir. seacht, L.
   septem, Gr. ???, Skr. saptan. [root]305. Cf. {Hebdomad},
   {Heptagon}, {September}.]
   One more than six; six and one added; as, seven days make one
   week.
   {Seven sciences}. See the Note under {Science}, n., 4.
   {Seven stars} (Astron.), the Pleiades.
   {Seven wonders of the world}. See under {Wonders}.
   {Seven-year apple} (Bot.), a rubiaceous shrub ({Genipa
      clusiifolia}) growing in the West Indies; also, its edible
      fruit.
   {Seven-year vine} (Bot.), a tropical climbing plant
      ({Ipom[oe]a tuberosa}) related to the morning-glory.
   

2. \Sev"en\, n.
   1. The number greater by one than six; seven units or
      objects.
            Of every beast, and bird, and insect small, Game
            sevens and pairs.                     --Milton.
   2. A symbol representing seven units, as 7, or vii.
   

This number occurs frequently in Scripture, and in such connections as lead to the supposition that it has some typical meaning. On the seventh day God rested, and hallowed it (Gen. 2:2, 3). The division of time into weeks of seven days each accounts for many instances of the occurrence of this number. This number has been called the symbol of perfection, and also the symbol of rest. "Jacob's seven years' service to Laban; Pharaoh's seven fat oxen and seven lean ones; the seven branches of the golden candlestick; the seven trumpets and the seven priests who sounded them; the seven days' siege of Jericho; the seven churches, seven spirits, seven stars, seven seals, seven vials, and many others, sufficiently prove the importance of this sacred number" (see Lev. 25:4; 1 Sam. 2:5; Ps. 12:6; 79:12; Prov. 26:16; Isa. 4:1; Matt. 18:21, 22; Luke 17:4). The feast of Passover (Ex. 12:15, 16), the feast of Weeks (Deut. 16:9), of Tabernacles (13:15), and the Jubilee (Lev. 25:8), were all ordered by seven. Seven is the number of sacrifice (2 Chr. 29:21; Job 42:8), of purification and consecration (Lev. 42:6, 17; 8:11, 33; 14:9, 51), of forgiveness (Matt. 18:21, 22; Luke 17:4), of reward (Deut. 28:7; 1 Sam. 2:5), and of punishment (Lev. 26:21, 24, 28; Deut. 28:25). It is used for any round number in such passages as Job 5:19; Prov. 26:16, 25; Isa. 4:1; Matt. 12:45. It is used also to mean "abundantly" (Gen. 4:15, 24; Lev. 26:24; Ps. 79:12).