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
He wishes, indeed, to asperse the conduct of Lady Edward Fitzgerald; but he well knew that, even were she in this country, she could not be called as a witness to contradict him.
From Irish Wit and Humor Anecdote Biography of Swift, Curran, O'Leary and O'Connell by Anonymous
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 Amelia Stratton Comfield
Who dare asperse the sweet sincerity of feminine friendship?
From Marion's Faith. by Charles King
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
On the first Sunday of his residence at the convent, as he went to high mass, he observed the friar who was sprinkling the holy water, hesitate when his turn came to be aspersed.
From The International Monthly, Volume 3, No. 3, June, 1851 by Various
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
But Sabellianism was a general slander with which they aspersed all orthodox pastors.
From The Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs, and Principal Saints January, February, March by Alban Butler
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
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 John Bate
Do you remember her aspersing Miss Blandy's character?—I do not recollect.
From Trial of Mary Blandy by William Roughead
I am not sure, Charles, whether I ought not to call you out for aspersing the honor of the family.”
From Humorous Ghost Stories by Dorothy Scarborough
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