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:
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
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
"By Saint Denis, I would not have been the man to asperse their blood thus, in their old halls at Grenada!"
From Confessions Of Con Cregan An Irish Gil Blas by Charles James Lever
But we may question whether the poet did not unduly idealize the past, as is the custom of poets, and whether he did not unfairly asperse the present.
From Americanisms and Briticisms with other essays on other isms by Brander Matthews
There, that ought to console you, even if Madame de Verzenay should asperse your character.”
From Sword and Gown A Novel by George A. (George Alfred) Lawrence
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
And in the case when a man's good faith is aspersed and his character assailed, the world's decision must rest either upon his own word or that of his detractors.
From My Attainment of the Pole by Frederick A. Cook
The claims of the shippers were instantly allowed by the secretary of state, with the usual interest; and Mr. Dowling, who had been aspersed by the local government, was amply vindicated by the commissioners.
From The History of Tasmania, Volume I by John West
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
If with the aspersed one he should fail, The asperser’s sure to fall; For, losing Christian charity, Have we not lost our all?
From Heart Utterances at Various Periods of a Chequered Life by Eliza Paul Gurney
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
At one time he thought of writing to the Home Office and aspersing his accuser; then he regretted his visit to Ashtown Park.
From It Is Never Too Late to Mend by Charles Reade
Then she commenced aspersing Isabel in every way, and Everard hotly defended her.
From Isabel Leicester A Romance by Maude Alma by Maude Alma
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
