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aspersion (n.)
mid-15c., aspercion, originally in theology, "the shedding of Christ's blood," 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). The non-theological sense of "a bespattering with slander, derogatory criticism" is attested from 1590s. To cast aspersions was in Fielding (1749).
updated on September 26, 2022
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Dictionary entries near aspersion
asperation
Asperger's Syndrome
asperges
asperity
asperse
aspersion
asphalt
aspheterism
asphodel
asphyxia
asphyxiate