sparse
UK: spɑːs | US: spɑːrs
adj. thinly dispersed or scattered; not dense
adj. occurring or distributed at intervals
sparse = spars<scattered> + e<adjective suffix>
- spars (from Latin sparsus, past participle of spargere, meaning "to scatter, strew")
- e (a common adjectival suffix in English, often derived from Latin or French)
Etymology Origin:
The word "sparse" traces back to the Latin sparsus, the past participle of spargere ("to scatter"). This root reflects the idea of things being spread out or distributed thinly. Over time, the term evolved into Middle French as spars and later entered English in the 16th century, retaining its core meaning of "scattered" or "not dense." The logic is straightforward: the morpheme spars- carries the foundational concept of dispersion, while the suffix -e solidifies its role as an adjective.
The sparse population in the desert makes it feel isolated.
Her sparse notes left much to the imagination.
The trees grew sparse as we climbed higher.
He gave only sparse details about the incident.
The artist used sparse brushstrokes to create a minimalist effect.