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
"I need none, sir; none will asperse me!" said she, haughtily.
From The Daltons, Volume I (of II) Or,Three Roads In Life by Lever, Charles James
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 My Lords of Strogue Vol. III, (of III) A Chronicle of Ireland, from the Convention to the Union by Wingfield, Lewis
Superior excellence is the general mark for calumny; and envy is usually led to asperse what it cannot imitate.
From Alida or, Miscellaneous Sketches of Incidents During the Late American War. Founded on Fact by Comfield, Amelia Stratton
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
For of late years the character of the British sparrow has been aspersed in this country, but more particularly abroad; and I think he ought to have a fair and impartial trial.
From In Touch with Nature Tales and Sketches from the Life by Stables, Gordon
Once more, all the old, worn-out charges were trumped up, including even that by which the Princess Margaret’s name had been so cruelly aspersed.
From Earl Hubert's Daughter The Polishing of the Pearl - A Tale of the 13th Century by Holt, Emily Sarah
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 West, John
In Job, God is not aspersed, a thing so easy to do in literature and so often done.
From A Hero and Some Other Folks by Quayle, William A. (William Alfred)
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
Nel didn’t tell you, I suppose, while he was engaged in aspersing my character, that there is a feud of long standing between us which is principally of his making?”
From The Shadow of the Past by Young, F.E. Mills
A third manifestation is, aspersing a man’s actions with mean censures, intimating that they proceed from wrong motives and principles.
From Talkers With Illustrations by Bate, John
Then she commenced aspersing Isabel in every way, and Everard hotly defended her.
From Isabel Leicester A Romance by Maude Alma by Alma, Maude
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.
