Word of the Day

: July 20, 2008

asperse

verb uh-SPURSS

What It Means

1 : to sprinkle; especially : to sprinkle with holy water

2 : to attack with evil reports or false or injurious charges

asperse in Context

"Though my opponent's supporters have aspersed my character, I think my record speaks for itself," said the candidate.

Did You Know?

You may be more familiar with the idea of "casting aspersions" than with "aspersing," although they mean essentially the same thing; the word "aspersion" can mean "a sprinkling with water" or, more commonly, "a false or misleading charge meant to harm someone's reputation." Both "asperse" and "aspersion" are descendants of the Latin verb "aspergere," meaning "to sprinkle." "Asperse" is the older word, dating to at least 1490; "aspersion" first appeared in print in English in the 1500s.