SPARSE, adjective spars. [Latin sparsus, scattered, from spargo.] 1. Thinly scattered; set or planted here and there; as a sparse population. 2. In botany, not opposite, not alternate, nor in any apparent regular order; applied to branches, leaves peduncles, etc. SPARSE, verb transitive spars. To disperse. [Not in use.]
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI