adj.
Pronunciation: ' dis-p( ə -)r ə t, di- ' sper- ə t, - ' spa-r ə t
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English desparat, from Latin disparatus, past participle of disparare to separate, from dis- + parare to prepare ― more at PARE
Date: 15th century
1 : containing or made up of fundamentally different and often incongruous elements
2 : markedly distinct in quality or character
synonyms see DIFFERENT
– dis · pa · rate · ly adverb
– dis · pa · rate · ness noun
– dis · par · i · ty \ di- ' sper- ə -t ē , - ' spa-r ə - \ noun