† sparplev.
Obsolete.
1. intransitive. To go or run in different directions; to disperse or scatter.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > go away [verb (intransitive)] > go away in all directions > be driven in all directions
to-flyc1000
to-drevea1225
sparplec1330
to-shedc1330
skaila1400
disparplec1400
scatterc1430
sparklec1440
shedc1485
disrout1525
disparkle1553
shattera1620
disperse1665
squander1823
α.
β. c1440 Partonope (Roxburghe Club) 1076 For Partanope made hym sparble wyde.a1500 (?c1450) Merlin xvii. 274 Than sparbled the saisnes and turned bakke towarde her chyuachie.c1330 R. Mannyng Chron. Wace (Rolls) 8488 Fele were slayn als þey fledde, & fleyng þey sparplyed & spredde.
c1420 Wars Alex. (Prose) (E.E.T.S.) 39 Wate þou noȝte wele þat a wolfe chasez a grete floke of schepe & gerse þam sparple.
?c1450 Life St. Cuthbert (1891) l. 7826 On þe ferth day þai sparpylled.
1572 (a1500) Taill of Rauf Coilȝear (1882) 26 Ilk ane tuik ane seir way, And sperpellit full fer.
2.
a. transitive. To cast or throw here and there or in different directions; to scatter; to disperse or separate unduly or improperly.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > arrangement or fact of being arranged > state of being scattered or dispersed > scatter [verb (transitive)] > scatter (things) about in disorder
scatterc1330
sparplea1350
tedc1560
straggle1589
squatter1611
disparple1613
flurr1661
litter1734
a1350 John Bapt. 222 in Horstm. Altengl. Leg. (1881) 126 Þe banes þat þai fand Sparpilled þai wide in þe land.
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) II. xix. cxxxi. 1388 Þe rowȝ voice is hose, and sparpled by smale and dyuerse breþynge.
a1400–50 Alexander 4162 Þan ferd þai forth..& freschly assemblis All at was sperpolid on þe spene & spilt with þe blastis.
1487 Sc. Acts Parl. (1814) II. 178 Nor the merchandis gudis be strikin vp nor vnresonably sperpalit.
1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid xi. xii. 50 With sik rebound and rewyne wonder sayr That he his lyfe hes sparpellit in the ayr.
1542 in State Papers Henry VIII (1834) III. 374 The Kinges Majesties Judges..wer so sperplid or severid from other, not two in one housse.
1566 T. Drant tr. Horace Medicinable Morall sig. Aiij If that thou spende and sparple it No dodkin wyll abyde.
1827 W. Tennant Papistry Storm'd v. 152 The heukle-banies black That sparpled lay about like wrack Or tangles on a shore.
b. To disperse by distribution or division among persons. Chiefly Scottish.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > giving > distributing or dealing out > distribute or deal out [verb (transitive)]
britteneOE
to-dealeOE
dealOE
britOE
setc1275
dispensec1374
dispendc1375
to-seta1387
dispone1429
disposec1430
sparple1435
demean1439
distributea1464
distribue1477
issuec1484
communy1530
to deal out1535
impart1545
disperse1555
retail1576
digest1578
deliver1626
to hand out1648
to dispose of1676
dispensate1701
dole1701
to give out1710
sling1860
to give away1889
to pass out1926
dish1934
R. Misyn tr. R. Rolle Fire of Love 24 Gudes þe whilk he has ouer his nede, to þame þat it nedis he sparpyll.
1533 J. Bellenden tr. Livy Hist. Rome ii. iii. 138 The faderis has dividit þe croun amang þame self, and sparpellit his riches and guddis amang þe pepill.
1581 in D. Masson Reg. Privy Council Scotl. (1880) 1st Ser. III. 414 The guidis and geir of the foirsaidis rebellis..ar sparpallit and devidit in the handes of sindre personis.
1615 Reg. Privy Council Scotl. X. 343 [They have] sparpallit and disponit upoun the same gold and silver at thair pleasour.
3. To break up, scatter, disperse (an assembly, army, fleet, etc.) by superior force. Frequently with abroad.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > causing to go away > command to go away [verb (transitive)] > drive away > drive away in all directions
to-driveOE
to-dreveOE
to-skairc1175
scattera1300
skaila1300
disparplea1325
sheda1325
discatterc1330
to-scattera1382
sparple1382
to-rusha1387
to-sparplea1387
deperpeyla1400
rat1402
sever1412
to-ratc1440
disparklec1449
scarkle1450
sparklea1470
disperse1503
shudderc1540
sparse1549
dissipate?c1550
to wap sindry1563
squander1622
rout1641
to feeze about1689
α.
β. a1513 R. Fabyan New Cronycles Eng. & Fraunce (1516) II. f. ccx The Kynges Hoost was sparbled and chasyd.a1513 R. Fabyan New Cronycles Eng. & Fraunce (1516) II. f. xlviii Where thorough that symple feleshyp whiche named theym self Shepherdes was disseueryd and sparbelyd.1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) 2 Sam. xviii. 8 Forsothe there was the batail sparpoild vpon the face of al the loond.
c1420 Wars Alex. (Prose) (E.E.T.S.) 74 Thare na gouernour es þe folke are sparpled belyfe als schepe þat ere wit owtten ane hirde.
1489 W. Caxton tr. C. de Pisan Bk. Fayttes of Armes i. xxiv. 74 So were they in parell to be broken and sparpeylled abrode.
c1500 Melusine (1895) 165 I..shal shew you of the viii vessels that were sparpylled by the tempeste.
1549 W. Thomas Hist. Italie f. 186 Andrew and his men behaued them selfes so valiauntly, that they sparpled the imperiall armie abrode.
1582 N. Lichefield tr. F. L. de Castanheda 1st Bk. Hist. Discouerie E. Indias i. lviii. 121 b There was made a great slaughter, yea, farre greater then in the fieldes, for that there they were sperpeled and heere they tooke them altogether in their streets.
4. To disperse in a more or less regular or methodical manner.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > arrangement or fact of being arranged > state of being scattered or dispersed > scatter [verb (transitive)] > scatter here and there at intervals > in a more or less methodical way
sparplec1400
c1400 Lanfranc's Cirurg. 158 Þe veyne arisynge comeþ to þe mydrif; & sum partie of hir is sparpoiled þoruȝ þe mydrif & þe lymes of þe brest.
c1540 J. Bellenden tr. H. Boece Hyst. & Cron. Scotl. ii. x. f. 16v/2 Kyng Rewtha brocht all maner of craftismen out of othir contres, and sparpellit thaym in syndry schiris of his realme.
1553 T. Wilson Arte of Rhetorique 90 There is another kind of exornacion that is not equally sparpled throughout the whole oration.
5. To spread abroad or disseminate (rumours, news, etc.).
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > information > publishing or spreading abroad > publish or spread abroad [verb (transitive)]
sowc888
blowc1275
dispeple1297
to do abroadc1300
fame1303
publyc1350
defamea1382
publisha1382
open?1387
proclaima1393
slandera1400
spreada1400
abroachc1400
throwc1400
to give outa1425
promote?a1425
noisec1425
publicc1430
noisec1440
divulgea1464
to put outc1475
skail1487
to come out witha1500
bruit1525
bruita1529
to bear out1530
divulgate1530
promulgate1530
propale?1530
ventilate1530
provulgate1535
sparple1536
sparse1536
promulge1539
disperse1548
publicate1548
forthtell1549
hurly-burly?1550
propagate1554
to set abroada1555
utter1561
to set forth1567
blaze1570
evulgate1570
scatter1576
rear?1577
to carry about1585
pervulgate1586
celebrate?1596
propalate1598
vent1602
evulge1611
to give forth1611
impublic1628
ventilate1637
disseminate1643
expose1644
emit1650
to put about1664
to send abroad1681
to get abroad1688
to take out1697
advertise1710
forward1713
to set abouta1715
circulate1780
broadcast1829
vent1832
vulgate1851
debit1879
float1883
1536–7 Ld. Derby in 6th Rep. Royal Comm. Hist. MSS (1877) 445/2 Which letters and devises they sparple abroad.
1548 N. Udall et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. I. John vii. 52 These sayinges were by secrete whisperinges sperpled abrode.
a1614 J. Melville Autobiogr. & Diary (1842) 132 Newes war sparpelit athort the countrey, that the Ministers war all to be thair massacred.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1913; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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