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Sparse vs Dearth - What's the difference?

sparse | dearth |

In obsolete|lang=en terms the difference between sparse and dearth

is that sparse is (obsolete) to scatter; to disperse while dearth is (obsolete) dearness; the quality of being rare or costly.

As an adjective sparse

is having widely spaced intervals.

As a verb sparse

is (obsolete) to scatter; to disperse.

As a noun dearth is

a period or condition when food is rare and hence expensive; famine.

sparse

English

Adjective

(er)
  • Having widely spaced intervals.
  • Not dense; meager.

    • Related terms

    * thin out

    Derived terms

    * sparse array * sparse index * sparse matrix

    Verb

    (spars)
  • (obsolete) To scatter; to disperse.
    • (Spenser)

    Anagrams

    * * * * * * * ----

    dearth

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (rfc-sense) A period or condition when food is rare and hence expensive; famine.
  • (by extension) Scarcity; a lack or short supply.
  • * 1608 , William Shakespeare, King Lear :
    • I promise you, the effects he writes of succeed unhappily: as of unnaturalness between the child and the parent; death, dearth , dissolutions of ancient amities; divisions in state, menaces and maledictions against king and nobles; needless diffidences, banishment of friends, dissipation of cohorts, nuptial breaches, and I know not what.
  • *
  • (obsolete) Dearness; the quality of being rare or costly.
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    • Synonyms

    * (period when food is rare) famine, shortage * (scarcity) paucity, scarcity

    Anagrams

    * * *