disperse

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Dispersed p. pr. & vb. n. Dispersing. ] [ L. dispersus, p. p. of dispergere to strew, scatter. See Sparse. ] 1. To scatter abroad; to drive to different parts; to distribute; to diffuse; to spread; as, the Jews are dispersed among all nations. [ 1913 Webster ]

The lips of the wise disperse knowledge. Prov. xv. 7. [ 1913 Webster ]

Two lions, in the still, dark night,
A herd of beeves disperse. Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To scatter, so as to cause to vanish; to dissipate; as, to disperse vapors. [ 1913 Webster ]

Dispersed are the glories. Shak.

Syn. -- To scatter; dissipate; dispel; spread; diffuse; distribute; deal out; disseminate. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To separate; to go or move into different parts; to vanish; as, the company dispersed at ten o'clock; the clouds disperse. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To distribute wealth; to share one's abundance with others. [ 1913 Webster ]

He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor. Ps. cxii. 9. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Scattered. -- Dis*pers"ed*ly adv. -- Dis*pers"ed*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

Dispersed harmony (Mus.), harmony in which the tones composing the chord are widely separated, as by an octave or more. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Dispersedness. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]