aspersing
|a-spers-ing|
🇺🇸
/əˈspɜrsɪŋ/
🇬🇧
/əˈspɜːsɪŋ/
(asperse)
sprinkle (dirt) on someone's reputation
Etymology
'asperse' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'aspergere', where 'ad-' (toward) combined with 'spargere' meant 'to scatter, to sprinkle'.
'asperse' changed from Latin 'aspergere' into Old French forms (e.g. 'aspercer'), then entered Middle English as forms like 'aspersen' and eventually became the modern English verb 'asperse' and its present participle 'aspersing'.
Initially it meant 'to sprinkle' (literally), but over time it evolved into its current figurative meaning of 'to besmirch, to defame or slander'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Verb 1
present participle form of 'asperse' — acting to slander, defame, or besmirch someone's reputation; (rare) literally sprinkling or scattering (liquid or particles).
The committee accused him of aspersing his colleague's reputation during the campaign.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/10/31 00:38