diaspora

Etymology

From Ancient Greek διασπορᾱ́ (diasporā́, “dispersion”), from διασπείρω (diaspeírō, “to scatter”), from διά- (diá-, prefix indicating motion across or in all directions) + σπείρω (speírō, “to sow”).

noun

1. (historical) The dispersion of the Jews among the Gentiles after the Babylonian captivity (6th century BCE).
2. (by extension) Any similar dispersion.
   The African diaspora caused a melding of cultures, both African cultures and Western ones, in many places.
   We're going to use her to train young people in the skills of maintaining these machines, and encourage the Indian diaspora in this country to get involved in our hobby of steam railways. July 12 2023, Paul Clifton, “Network News: Saved: Trust protects Adrian Shooter's legacy”, in RAIL, number 987, page 29
3. (collective) A group so dispersed, especially Jews outside of the land of Israel.
4. The regions where such a dispersed group (especially the Jews) resides, taken collectively.
   Jews in the diaspora often have a different perspective on anti-Semitism from Israeli Jews.
5. Any dispersion of an originally homogeneous entity, such as a language or culture.
   Small wonder that there should have been in recent years fresh talk of the diaspora of English into several mutually incomprehensible languages 1988, Joseph Foley, New Englishes: the case of Singapore, page 1