verb
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to spread false rumours about; defame
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rare to sprinkle, as with water in baptism
Other Word Forms
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
Vocabulary lists containing asperse
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
With this threat blazoned, the British note went on to asperse individually and by name five officials of the Soviet Government.
From Time Magazine Archive
The hereditary duties of the King's Champion are to "gird himself in complete armor," ride out upon a noble charger, fling down his gauntlet, offer to fight all "liars and traitors" who asperse King Edward.
From Time Magazine Archive
Now that the latter was in his grave he took occasion to cast imputations upon the motives of the historian, and asperse the honesty of his statements.
From James Fenimore Cooper American Men of Letters by Thomas Raynesford Lounsbury
Although they refused to listen to these promises, yet the ready tongue of calumny took advantage of circumstances connected with the surrender of the fort of Mirabocco to asperse their integrity.
From The Vaudois of Piedmont A Visit to their Valleys by J. N. (John Napper) Worsfold
Oh, as to that; the lady was real enough, and Falconnet did grossly asperse her.
From The Master of Appleby A Novel Tale Concerning Itself in Part with the Great Struggle in the Two Carolinas; but Chiefly with the Adventures Therein of Two Gentlemen Who Loved One and the Same Lady by Francis Lynde
During the first nine months of 1923 there were: Births 584,458 Deaths 506,007 Birth rate excess 78,451 The Paris press aspersed U. S. lib erty.
From Time Magazine Archive
"Well," said the Doctor, "repel this error, and do justice to the innocent name you have aspersed, for the Count gave me that very list, and here it is."
From The International Monthly, Volume 4, No. 3, October, 1851 by Various
How strangely and how cruelly has the character of a bibliographer been aspersed!
From Bibliomania; or Book-Madness A Bibliographical Romance by Thomas Frognall Dibdin
In this you imply that the editor of the Guardian has misrepresented your sentiments, and aspersed your character; and, if so, has he not changed his principles?
From The Story of My Life Being Reminiscences of Sixty Years' Public Service in Canada by J. George (John George) Hodgins
It was nothing of the sort, Mrs Fyne assured me with some resentment, as though I had aspersed little Fyne’s sanity.
From Chance A Tale in Two Parts by Joseph Conrad
He had brought this suit against Le Journal of Paris for libelously aspersing his patriotism as an Alsatian.
From Time Magazine Archive
J. Without unfairly aspersing Homer Cummings, it can be said that the D. o.
From Time Magazine Archive
The clerk goes before the cross-bearer and the bishop bearing his holy-water vessel and his sprinkler for the purpose of aspersing the spectators.
From The Parish Clerk by P. H. (Peter Hampson) Ditchfield
That the tale of Richard aspersing the chastity of his own mother is incredible; it appearing that he lived with her in perfect harmony, and lodged with her in her palace at that very time.
From Historic Doubts on the Life and Reign of King Richard the Third by Horace Walpole
I understood the persistence of Alexis in aspersing her character.
From Marie; a story of Russian love by Marie H. de Zielinska
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