/ 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:
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)