† reˈsperse, v. Obs.
[f. L. respers-, ppl. stem of respergĕre to besprinkle, f. re- re- + spargĕre to sprinkle, scatter.]
1. trans. To sprinkle, spot, stain. rare—1.
| 1482 Monk of Evesham (Arb.) 89 He was right feyre and sembly in whyte clothyng thawghe they were resperste and had on hem a few spottys. |
2. To asperse, accuse. rare—1.
| 1563 Foxe A. & M. 865 b, A man..not excommunicated, nor interdicted,..noted, respersed, or conuicted. |
3. To scatter, disperse. (Only in Jer. Taylor.)
| 1649 Jer. Taylor Gt. Exemp. Pref. ¶47 Those excellent..discourses which..we find respersed and thinly scattered in all the Greeke and Roman Poets. 1654 ― Real Pres. x. 187 As appears in the instances above reckoned and in others respersed over this Treatise. |
Hence † reˈspersed ppl. a. Obs.
| 1649 Jer. Taylor Gt. Exemp. ii. Disc. viii. 67 This we gather, as fragments are gathered, by respersed sayings..recorded in holy Scripture. |