To spread widely in different directions; to scatter or disperse something across an area.
From Middle English dis- (intensive/distribution prefix) + spread (Old English sprǽdan). The prefix intensifies the spreading action, suggesting movement in multiple directions.
Medieval writers used 'dis-' constantly to show something spreading out or scattering—if you look at old texts, you'll see 'disspread,' 'disperse,' 'distribute' all doing similar work, which is why only one usually survives.
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