Obs. Also 6 sparce. [f. L. spars-, ppl. stem of spargĕre to scatter, sprinkle, strew, etc. Cf. prec. and OF. esparser, -cer, MDu. sparsen, spaersen (WFlem. spaarzen). See also SPERSE v.]
1. absol. To distribute or scatter abroad in giving.
1535. Coverdale, Ps. cxi. 9. He hath sparsed abrode, & geuen to the poore. [So in later versions, commentaries, etc.]
1612. T. Taylor, Comm. Titus i. 8. Hereby thou art like God, he sparseth abroad, he vnweariably giveth good, to good and bad.
1614. T. Adams, in Spurgeon, Treas. Dav., VII. 24. Sparse abroad with a full hand, like a seedsman in a broad field.
2. trans. To spread or disseminate (a rumor, doctrine, etc.). Freq. with abroad.
(a) 1536. Rem. Sedition, F j. They began properly to sparse pretye rumours in the North.
a. 1572. Knox, Hist. Ref., Wks. 1846, I. 119. Sparsing a false bruyt, ‘That the said Johnne, seaking to flie, had broken his awin craig.’
a. 1650. Calderwood, Hist. Kirk (1843), II. 17. Diversitie of rumors which Satan sparseth against us.
(b) 1548. Udall, etc. Erasm. Par. Acts vi. 27. The doctrine of Christes Gospel was sparsed euery daye further abrode.
1585. Fleetwood, in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. I. II. 298. For sparcinge abrood certen lewed, sedicious, and traytorous bookes.
1606. Hieron, Wks., I. 47. Dangerous and infectious bookes, which … are sparsed abroad into all parts.
3. To break up, scatter, send in all directions.
1549–62. Sternhold & H., Ps. xliv. 10. Our enemies robb’d and spoyld our goods, While we were sparst abroad.
1600. Fairfax, Tasso, V. lxxxviii. That many Christians haue they falsly slaine, And like a raging flood they sparsed ar.
1611. Chapman, Iliad, XI. 268/148. When the hollow flood of aire, in Zephires cheeks doth swell, And sparseth all the gatherd clouds, white Notus power did draw.
b. To dispose, sprinkle, throw, etc., in a scattered manner. Const. into or upon (something).
c. 1550. H. Lloyd, Treas. Health, P v. Ashes made of a dogges head sparsyd vpon ye holownes of the breste.
1614. Gorges, Lucan, II. 78. To set free the bay againe, And sparse these workes into the maine.
c. To distribute, place, etc., here and there or dispersedly in a book or writing. Chiefly in pa. pple. Also without const.
1608. Parke, Fal Babel, B 2 b. I would not heape vp al I could saie at once, but sparse and let them fall here some and there some, the better to profit.
1608. H. Clapham, Errour Left Hand, A iv b. With diuers of the heades sparsed in my Bibles briefe.
1631. R. Byfield, Doctr. Sabb., 118. This hath been anciently taught, and still is sparsed in the writings of the … learned.
1657. J. Watts, Vind. Ch. Eng., 42. Though sparsed up and down in your Sheets.
