Sparse
(Sparse) a. [Compar. Sparser ; superl. Sparsest.] [L. sparsus, p. p. of spargere to strew,
scatter. Cf. Asperse, Disperse.]
1. Thinly scattered; set or planted here and there; not being dense or close together; as, a sparse population.
Carlyle.
2. (Bot.) Placed irregularly and distantly; scattered; — applied to branches, leaves, peduncles, and the
like.
Sparse
(Sparse), v. t. [L. sparsus, p. p. of spargere to scatter.] To scatter; to disperse. [Obs.] Spenser.
Sparsedly
(Spars"ed*ly) adv. Sparsely. [Obs.]
Sparsely
(Sparse"ly), adv. In a scattered or sparse manner.
Sparseness
(Sparse"ness), n. The quality or state of being sparse; as, sparseness of population.
Sparsim
(||Spar"sim) adv. [L., fr. spargere to scatter.] Sparsely; scatteredly; here and there.
Spartan
(Spar"tan) a. [L. Spartanus.] Of or pertaining to Sparta, especially to ancient Sparta; hence,
hardy; undaunted; as, Spartan souls; Spartan bravey. — n. A native or inhabitant of Sparta; figuratively,
a person of great courage and fortitude.
Sparteine
(Spar"te*ine) n. (Chem.) A narcotic alkaloid extracted from the tops of the common broom
as a colorless oily liquid of aniline-like odor and very bitter taste.
Sparterie
(Spar"ter*ie) n. [F., from Sp. esparto esparto, L. spartum, Gr. .] Articles made of the blades
or fiber of the Lygeum Spartum and Stipa (or Macrochloa) tenacissima, kinds of grass used in Spain
and other countries for making ropes, mats, baskets, nets, and mattresses. Loudon.
Sparth
(Sparth) n. [Cf. Icel. spara.] An Anglo-Saxon battle-ax, or halberd. [Obs.]
He hath a sparth of twenty pound of weight.
Chaucer.
Sparve
(Sparve) n. (Zoöl.) The hedge sparrow. [Prov. Eng.]
Spary
(Spar"y) a. Sparing; parsimonious. [Obs.]
Spasm
(Spasm) n. [F. spasme, L. spasmus, Gr. from to draw, to cause convulsion. Cf. Span, v. t.]
1. (Med.) An involuntary and unnatural contraction of one or more muscles or muscular fibers.
Spasm are usually either clonic or tonic. In clonic spasm, the muscles or muscular fibers contract and
relax alternately in very quick succession. In tonic spasm, the contraction is steady and uniform, and
continues for a comparatively long time, as in tetanus.
2. A sudden, violent, and temporary effort or emotion; as, a spasm of repentance.
Cynic spasm (Med.) See under Cynic. — Spasm of the chest. See Angina pectoris, under Angina.
Spasmatical
(Spas*mat"ic*al) a. Spasmodic. [Obs.]
