from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Sporadic \Spo*rad"ic\ (-r[a^]d"[i^]k), a. [Gr. ? scattered, fr.
?, ?, scattered, fr. ? to sow seed, to scatter like seed: cf.
F. sporadique. See {Spore}.]
Occurring singly, or apart from other things of the same
kind, or in scattered instances; separate; single; as, a
sporadic fireball; a sporadic case of disease; a sporadic
example of a flower.
[1913 Webster]
{Sporadic disease} (Med.), a disease which occurs in single
and scattered cases. See the Note under {Endemic}, a.
[1913 Webster]