spersev.
/spəːs/ Now archaic.1845 T. Cooper Purgatory of Suicides iv. liii. 144 Who, then, shall sperse the dark eternal mists?1879 J. D. Long tr. Virgil Æneid i. 80 Wreck their sinking boats, Or sperse and whelm their corses in the deep.
1. transitive. To cause to scatter or disperse; to drive in different directions.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > arrangement or fact of being arranged > state of being scattered or dispersed > scatter [verb (transitive)]
to-shedc888
skairc1175
skaila1400
disparklec1449
scatter?c1450
spartlec1475
sprattlea1500
distribute?c1510
disperge1530
shudderc1540
crumble1547
pour1574
sperse1580
disject1581
spatter1582
distract1589
sparflec1600
esparse1625
fan1639
disperse1654
sparge1786
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > causing to go away > command to go away [verb (transitive)] > drive away > dispel (cloud, gloom, or immaterial things)
overdriveOE
discuss?c1400
digesta1513
profligate1542
depel?1548
foil1548
sperse1580
disparkle1601
redisperse1621
dispela1631
fray1635
dissipate1691
1580 Baret's Aluearie (rev. ed.) S. 93 That is spersed and scattered out of order.
1591 E. Spenser tr. J. du Bellay Visions in Complaints viii I saw the wrathfull winde..That sperst these cloudes.
1596 E. Spenser Second Pt. Faerie Queene v. iii. sig. O7v He..Broke his sword in twaine, and all his armour sperst . View more context for this quotation
1607 T. Dekker Whore of Babylon sig. K4 Are those clowds sperst that stroue to dimme our light?
1614 A. Gorges tr. Lucan Pharsalia ii. 77 Rockes..like the sands are spearst abroad, Faster than hands can them vnload.
1646 H. More Democritus Platonissans 13 What then shall hinder but a roscid aire With gentle heat each where be 'sperst and sprent.
2. intransitive. To take different directions.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > go away [verb (intransitive)] > go away in all directions
to-fareOE
to-ferec1000
to-wendc1175
skaila1300
dissipate1660
dispersea1672
sperse1827
1827 W. Tennant Papistry Storm'd 125 They..spers'd about in search o' beds.
Derivatives
spersed adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > causing to go away > [adjective] > driven away in all directions > having property of dispelling > dispelled
spersed1590
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene i. i. sig. A8v Making speedy way through spersed ayre.
1646 H. More Democritus Platonissans 2 An inward triumph doth my soul up-heave And spread abroad through endlesse 'spersed aire.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1914; most recently modified version published online December 2020).
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