Main Entry: dis·pa·rate

Pronunciation: \ˈdis-p(ə-)rət, di-ˈsper-ət, -ˈspa-rət\

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-ˈsper-ə-tē, -ˈspa-rə-\ noun