Word of the Day

: July 29, 2024

aspersion

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noun uh-SPER-zhun

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What It Means

To cast aspersion (or aspersions) on someone is to criticize them harshly or unfairly: aspersion is defined as "a false or misleading charge meant to harm someone's reputation, or the act of making such a charge." Aspersion may also refer to a sprinkling with water, especially in religious ceremonies.

// Melissa believed that Roger had unjustly cast aspersions on the quality of her research.

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aspersion in Context

"The policy makers who disparage and ridicule the arts are no better than students who whine 'When am I ever going to use this?' The ignorance in that aspersion is beyond comprehension. Take a minute and look around your room and identify just one item that is not influenced by art and design." — Roger L. Guffey, The Lexington (Kentucky) Herald Leader, 30 May 2024

Did You Know?

"No sweet aspersion shall the heavens let fall / To make this contract grow." In this line from Shakespeare's The Tempest, aspersion literally refers to a sprinkling of rain, but figuratively means "blessing." Shakespeare's use is true to the heritage of the term: aspersion comes from the Latin word aspersus, a form of the verb aspergere, which means "to sprinkle" or "to scatter." When aspersion first appeared in English in the 16th century, it referred to the type of sprinklings (for instance, of holy water) that occur in religious ceremonies. But English speakers noted that splatters can soil and stain, and it wasn’t long before aspersion was also being used for reports that stain or tarnish a reputation.