disparato

disparate, diverse, varied

adjective dees-pah-RAH-toh Rare

Origin: From Latin disparatus, past participle of disparare (to separate).

Usage Note

Disparato describes things that are strikingly different from one another in kind, not just in degree — elementi disparati suggests a heterogeneous mix that has little in common. It is not a false friend of English 'desperate' (disperato in Italian); confusing the two is a very common learner error.

Examples

"Il gruppo era composto da elementi disparati."

Natural Translation

The group was made up of disparate elements.

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