Di|as|po|ra

Di|as|po|ra «dy AS puhr uh», noun.

1. the scattering of the Jews after their captivity in Babylon.

2. the Jews thus scattered.

3. the parts of the world in which Jews live outside of Israel or, formerly, Palestine: »

Other Israeli leaders joined them in stressing the need for a strong Zionist movement in the Diaspora (New York Times).

4. the early Jewish Christians living outside of Palestine.

5. Also, diaspora, the scattering of any group; dispersion: »

During the last years of the Republic, there had begun the great Diaspora of Florentine artists. Michelangelo went to Rome. Pietro Torrigiano and the Rovezzano sculptors went to England. Jacopo Sansovino went to Venice (Mary McCarthy).

╂[< Greek diasporá a scattering < diá- through, apart + sporá a sowing < speírein to sow. See etym. of doublet diaspore. (Cf. ↑diaspore)]