asperse

American  

[uh-spurs] / əˈspɜrs /

verb (used with object)

aspersed, aspersing

1. to attack with false, malicious, and damaging charges or insinuations; slander.

   Synonyms:

   traduce, abuse, malign

2. to sprinkle; bespatter.

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asperse British  

/ əˈspɜːs /

verb

1. to spread false rumours about; defame

2. rare to sprinkle, as with water in baptism

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Other Word Forms

• asperser noun
• aspersive adjective
• aspersively adverb
• unaspersed adjective
• unaspersive adjective

Etymology

Origin of asperse

1480–90; < Latin aspersus besprinkled (past participle of aspergere ), equivalent to a- a- ⁵ + -sper- (combining form of spar-, variant of sparg- sparge ) + -sus, variant of -tus past participle suffix

Example Sentences

To impeach; to accuse; to asperse; to inform against; to reproach.

From Project Gutenberg

I would give my life rather than hear her aspersed by a calumnious word--give my life, aye, readily, willingly.'

From Project Gutenberg

Let no one write my epitaph; for as no man who knows my motives dares now to vindicate them, let not prejudice or ignorance asperse them.

From Project Gutenberg

The King's personal courage Pitt had publicly and wantonly aspersed; Hanover and the Hanoverians he had held up to every form of public hatred and contempt.

From Project Gutenberg

According to these principles, our doctors in their quarrels, injure, defame, calumniate, and asperse, and when they have the power, persecute and exterminate each other.

From Project Gutenberg