aspersion
[uh-spur-zhuh n, -shuh n]
- a damaging or derogatory remark or criticism; slander: casting aspersions on a campaign rival.
- the act of slandering; vilification; defamation; calumniation; derogation: Such vehement aspersions cannot be ignored.
- the act of sprinkling, as in baptism.
- Archaic. a shower or spray.
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Origin of aspersion
Synonyms
See more synonyms for aspersion on Thesaurus.com1. censure, reproach.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for aspersion
Contemporary Examples
And Tobin, by somehow completely ignoring the definition of the word "aspersion," said this wasn't one.
I suspect that Obama, too—for all his personal angst over the Muslim aspersion—will be with squarely with me on this one.
Historical Examples
She evidently regarded the statement as an aspersion upon myself.
Novel NotesJerome K. Jerome
But think not that I ever had any idea of casting an aspersion on you.
KosciuszkoMonica Mary Gardner
Carrie felt this to contain, in some way, an aspersion upon her ability.
Sister CarrieTheodore Dreiser
Mrs. Ercott smiled, and made no answer to an aspersion she had heard before.
The Dark FlowerJohn Galsworthy
But of this aspersion he was fully cleared, by the confession of the real father.
Biographia Scoticana (Scots Worthies)John Howie
aspersion
- a disparaging or malicious remark; slanderous accusation (esp in the phrase cast aspersions (on))
- the act of defaming
- rare the act of sprinkling, esp of water in baptism
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for aspersion
n.
mid-15c., from Latin aspersionem (nominative aspersio) "a sprinkling," noun of action from past participle stem of aspergere "to sprinkle on," from ad- "to" (see ad-) + spargere "sprinkle, strew" (see sparse). Originally in theology, the shedding of Christ's blood. Modern sense of "bespattering with slander" first attested 1590s. To cast aspersions was in Fielding (1749).
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper