In this answer on Stack Overflow, the term "several" is used as an indeterminate number, the actual value of which is literally in the quintillions:
Zero is one of several values that can be represented exactly.
To my ear, this is an exceedingly strange use of "several", which led me to believe that the writer was confused.
I realize that trying to truly pin down "several" is probably a hopeless task, but I'm curious if anyone else would use it for such an immensely vast quantity, and if there's regional variation in the usage.
So: How many is "several"? Would anyone else use "several" for "quintillions"?
This question addresses similar issues, but doesn't seem to have the answer I'm interested in (much of the discussion mentions lower bounds for "several", but not upper bounds).
Best Answer
As I posted in a comment, one of the definitions of several is:
A further search for a definition of many yields:
In my own experience in American English, I wouldn't use "several" to mean "quintillions". Many would fit the context better.