King James Bible Dictionary

SCAT'TER, verb transitive [Latin scateo, discutio; Gr. to scatter to discuss. This word may be formed on the root of discutio. The primary sense is to drive or throw.]

1. To disperse; to dissipate; to separate or remove things to a distance from each other.

From thence did the Lord scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth. Genesis 11:9.

I will scatter you among the heathen. Leviticus 26:33.

2. To throw loosely about; to sprinkle; as, to scatter seed in sowing.

Teach the glad hours to scatter as they fly, soft quiet, gentle love and endless joy.

3. To spread or set thinly.

Why should my muse enlarge on Libyan swains, their scatter'd cottages, and ample plains.

SCAT'TER, verb intransitive

1. To be dispersed or dissipated. The clouds scatter after a storm.

2. To be liberal to the poor; to be charitable. Proverbs 11:24.

SCAT'TERED, participle passive

1. Dispersed; dissipated; thinly spread; sprinkled or thinly spread over.

2. In botany, irregular in position; without any apparent regular order; as scattered branches.

SCAT'TEREDLY, adverb In a dispersed manner; separately. [Not much used.]

SCAT'TERING, participle present tense

1. Dispersing; spreading thinly; sprinkling.

2. adjective Not united; divided among many; as scattering votes.

SCAT'TERINGLY, adverb Loosely; in a dispersed manner; thinly; as habitations scatteringly placed over the country.

SCAT'TERLING, noun A vagabond; one that no fixed habitation or residence. [Little used.]