† sparple, v. Obs.
Forms: α. 4, 6 sparpil(l, 5 sparpeyll, 5–6 sparpyll(e, 6 -el(l, 6–7 -al(l, 4–6 (9) sparple; 4–5 sparpoil, 6 -ole; 5 sperpule, 5–6 sperpele, -ale, -ole, sperple. β. 4–6 sparble, 6 sparbel-. (See also sparfle v., sparkle v.2, and spartle v.1)
[ad. OF. esparpeillier (12th c.; mod.F. éparpiller), = Prov. esparpalhar, Catal. esparpillar, It. sparpagliare, to scatter, disperse, send in all directions: of uncertain origin, cf. disparple v.]
1. intr. To go or run in different directions; to disperse or scatter.
| α c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 8488 Fele were slayn als þey fledde, & fleyng þey sparplyed & spredde. c 1420 Wars Alex. (Prose) 39 (E.E.T.S.), Wate þou noȝte wele þat a wolfe chasez a grete floke of schepe & gerse þam sparple. c 1450 St. Cuthbert (Surtees) 7826 On þe ferth day þai sparpylled. c 1475 Rauf Coilȝear 26 Ilk ane tuik ane seir way, And sperpellit full fer. |
| β c 1440 Partonope 1076 (Roxb. Cl.), For Partanope made hym sparble wyde. c 1450 Merlin xvii. 274 Than sparbled the saisnes and turned bakke towarde her chyuachie. |
2. trans. To cast or throw here and there or in different directions; to scatter; to disperse or separate unduly or improperly.
| a 1350 John Bapt. 222 in Horstm. Altengl. Leg. (1881) 126 Þe banes þat þai fand Sparpilled þai wide in þe land. 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. xix. cxxxi. (1495) 942 The rough voyc is hose and sparplyd by smalle and dyuers brethynge. a 1400–50 Alexander 4162 Þan ferd þai forth..& freschly assemblis All at was sperpolid on þe spene & spilt with þe blastis. 1487 Sc. Acts Parlt. (1814) II. 178 Nor the merchandis gudis be strikin vp nor vnresonably sperpalit. 1513 Douglas æneid xi. xii. 50 With sik rebound and rewyne wonder sayr That he his lyfe hes sparpellit in the ayr. 1542 St. Papers Hen. VIII, III. 374 The Kinges Majesties Judges..wer so sperplid or severid from other, not two in one housse. 1566 Drant tr. Hor., Sat. i. i. A iij, If that thou spende and sparple it, no dodkin wyll abyde. 1819 W. Tennant Papistry Storm'd v. (1827) 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
Sc.| 1435 Misyn Fire of Love 24 Gudes þe whilk he has ouer his nede, to þame þat it nedis he sparpyll. 1533 Bellenden Livy ii. iii. 138 The faderis has dividit þe croun amang þame self, and sparpellit his riches and guddis amang þe pepill. 1581 Reg. Privy Council Scot. III. 414 The guidis and geir of the foirsaidis rebellis..ar sparpallit and devidit in the handes of sindre personis. 1615 Ibid. 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. Freq. with
abroad.
| α 1382 Wyclif 2 Sam. xviii. 8 Forsothe there was the batail sparpoild vpon the face of al the loond. c 1420 Wars Alex. (Prose) 74 (E.E.T.S.), Thare na gouernour es þe folke are sparpled belyfe als schepe þat ere wit owtten ane hirde. 1489 Caxton Faytes of A. i. xxiv. 74 So were they in parell to be broken and sparpeylled abrode. c 1500 Melusine 165, I..shal shew you of the viii vessels that were sparpylled by the tempeste. 1549 Thomas Hist. Italy 186 Andrew and his men behaued them selfes so valiauntly, that they sparpled the imperiall army abrode. 1582 N. Lichefield tr. Castanheda's Conq. E. Ind. 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. |
| β a 1513 Fabyan Chron. vii. (1811) 375 Where thorough that symple feleshyp whiche named theym self shepherdes, was disseueryd and sparbelyd. Ibid. 636 The Kynges hoost was sparbled and chasyd. |
4. To disperse in a more or less regular or methodical manner.
| c 1400 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. 1536 Bellenden Cron. Scot. (1821) I. 48 King Rewtha brocht all maner of craftis⁓men out of othir contres, and sparpellit thaim in sindry schiris of his realme. 1553 T. Wilson Rhet. 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.).
| 1536–7 Ld. Derby in 6th Report Hist. MSS. Commission 445/2 Which letters and devises they sparple abroad. 1548 Udall, etc. Erasm. Par. John vii. 52 These sayinges were by secrete whisperinges sperpled abrode. 1582 J. Melvill Autobiog. (Wodrow Soc.) 132 Newes war sparpelit athort the countrey, that the Ministers war all to be thair massacred. |