dispersed
UK: dɪˈspɜːst | US: dɪˈspɜːrst
adj. scattered or spread over a wide area
vt. (past tense of disperse) to distribute or spread over a wide area
dispersed = dis<apart> + perse<scatter> + ed<past participle suffix>
- dis-: Prefix meaning "apart" or "away," from Latin dis-.
- perse: Root derived from Latin spargere (to scatter), evolving into Old French disperser.
- -ed: Suffix indicating past tense or participle form.
Etymology Origin:
The word disperse originates from Latin dispersus, the past participle of dispergere ("to scatter widely"). The prefix dis- emphasizes separation, while -spargere (source of perse) conveys scattering. Over time, the Old French disperser influenced the Middle English adoption, retaining the core idea of widespread distribution.
The seeds were dispersed by the wind across the field.
Protesters dispersed quickly when the police arrived.
Light dispersed through the prism creates a rainbow.
The fog dispersed as the sun rose.
His attention was dispersed among too many tasks.