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aspersion. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
aspersion, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
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English
Etymology
From Latin aspersiōnem, from aspersiō (“sprinkling”).
Pronunciation
Noun
aspersion (plural aspersions)
- An attack on somebody's reputation or good name, often in the phrase to cast aspersions upon….
- Synonyms: calumny, slander; see also Thesaurus:slander
1799, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, “Resolutions of the House of Representatives of Pennsylvania to Kentucky”, in State Documents on Federal Relations, University of Pennsylvania, published 1906, page 21:No criminality can be infered or punishment inflicted, but for writing, printing, uttering, or publishing false, scandalous and malicious aspersions against the government.
1911, Joseph Conrad, Under Western Eyes:Even the comfort of the bottle might conceivably fail him in this supreme crisis. At such an age nothing but a halter could cure the pangs of an unquenchable passion. And, besides, there was the wild exasperation aroused by the unjust aspersions and the contumely of the house, with the maddening impossibility to account for that mysterious thrashing, added to these simple and bitter sorrows.
2023 June 30, Marina Hyde, “The tide is coming in fast on Rishi Sunak – and it’s full of sewage”, in The Guardian:Back in 2018, the body representing the water industry was snorting at Gove’s aspersions, declaring hotly that it looked forward to its pet regulator “bringing some sorely needed facts and balance to the debate”.
- (obsolete) A sprinkling, especially of holy water.
1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies (First Folio), London: Isaac Iaggard, and Ed Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, :If thou dost break her virgin knot before
All sanctimonious ceremonies may
With full and holy rite be minister'd,
No sweet aspersion shall the heavens let fall
To make this contract grow; but barren hate […]
Derived terms
Translations
an attack on somebody's reputation or good name
a sprinkling of holy water
Further reading
Anagrams
French
Pronunciation
Noun
aspersion f (plural aspersions)
- aspersion
- sprinkling
Further reading