Fundamentally distinct or different in kind; entirely dissimilar: "This mixture of apparently disparate materials—scandal and spiritualism, current events and eternal recurrences—is not promising on the face of it"(Gary Wills).
Containing or composed of dissimilar or opposing elements: a disparate group of people who represented a cross section of the city.
[Latin disparātus, past participle of disparāre, to separate : dis-, apart; see dis- + parāre, to prepare; see perə-1 in Indo-European roots.] dis'pa·rate·ly adv., dis'pa·rate·ness n.
1608, "unlike in kind," from L. disparatus, pp. of disparare "divide, separate," from dis- "apart" + parare "get ready, prepare" (see pare); meaning infl. by L. dispar "unequal, unlike."
Main Entry: dis·pa·rate Pronunciation: dis-'par-&t, 'dis-p(&-)r&t Function: adjective : indicating or stimulating dissimilar pointson the retina of each eye