aspersion

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a disparaging remark

   In the 19th century any reference to female sexuality was considered a vile aspersion.

Simplified etymology

Aspersion comes from Latin spargere, “to sprinkle,” and originally meant the sprinkling of water or another liquid, especially in baptism. The image shifted from sprinkling to spattering someone with filth and then figuratively to damaging a person’s reputation through false insinuations.

From Latin aspersiōnem, from aspersiō (“sprinkling”).

Topics

External links

• Google Images
• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary