Library / English Dictionary

ASPERSION

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

The act of sprinkling water in baptism (rare)

Synonyms:

aspersion; sprinkling

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("aspersion" is a kind of...):

baptism (a Christian sacrament signifying spiritual cleansing and rebirth)

Sense 2

Meaning:

An abusive attack on a person's character or good name

Synonyms:

aspersion; calumny; defamation; denigration; slander

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("aspersion" is a kind of...):

attack (strong criticism)

Derivation:

asperse (charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the good name and reputation of someone)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A disparaging remark

Example:

it is difficult for a woman to understand a man's sensitivity to any slur on his virility

Synonyms:

aspersion; slur

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("aspersion" is a kind of...):

depreciation; derogation; disparagement (a communication that belittles somebody or something)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "aspersion"):

ethnic slur (a slur on someone's race or language)

Derivation:

asperse (charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the good name and reputation of someone)

Credits