Table of Contents
The word for today is…
aspersion (noun):
1a: a false or misleading charge meant to harm someone's reputation
b: the act of making such a charge : defamation
2: a sprinkling with water especially in religious ceremonies
Source : Merriam -Webster
Etymology : "No sweet aspersion shall the heavens let fall / To make this contract grow." In this line from Shakespeare's The Tempest, aspersion literally refers to a sprinkling of rain, but figuratively means "blessing." Shakespeare's use is true to the heritage of the term: aspersion comes from the Latin word aspersus, a form of the verb aspergere, which means "to sprinkle" or "to scatter." When aspersion first appeared in English in the 16th century, it referred to the type of sprinklings (for instance, of holy water) that occur in religious ceremonies. But English speakers noted that splatters can soil and stain, and it wasn’t long before aspersion was also being used for reports that stain or tarnish a reputation.
If you enjoyed this Good Oil word of the day please consider sharing it with your friends and, especially, your children.
