An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

1. To spread or distribute from a fixed or constant source.
   

2. To become dispersed.

Etymology (EN): M.E., from M.Fr. disperser “scatter,” from L. dispersus, p.p. of dispergere “to scatter,” from → dis- “apart” + spargere “to scatter,” from PIE base *(s)pregh- “to scatter;” cf. Av. spareg- “to germinate, shoot, sprout,” fra-sparəγa- “shoot, sprout,”
Skt. parjanya- “rain, rain god,” Lith. spurgas “sprout.”

Etymology (PE): Pâšidan “to scatter, sprinkle,” az ham pâšidan “to scatter on all sides;” cf. Gazi pâšn-/pâšnâ “to scatter, spread,” Lor. perxa “sprinkling;” Av. paršat.gauu- “having a speckled cow;”
Skt. prs- “to sprinkle,” parsati “sprinkles;” Toch. pärs- “to sprinkle;” Lith. purškiu “I spray;” PIE roor *pers- “to spray, sprinkle.”