aspersion

Where does the word "aspersion" come from? It comes from Latin spargere, passing through Latin before entering English (1500s).

Aspersion’s story begins in Latin: spargere meant “to scatter, to sprinkle.” To scatter, to sprinkle, combined with ad- (toward). Within Latin, it grew into aspergere by ancient. To sprinkle on, from ad- and spargere. By ancient, Latin speakers had reshaped it into aspersio. A sprinkling, later a damaging remark spread about someone, from aspergere. It reached English by 1500s as aspersion. Settled as the English word for a critical or damaging remark about someone. Today, aspersion means a critical or damaging remark that questions someone's character or reputation.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient spargere "to scatter, to sprinkle", to scatter, to sprinkle, combined with ad- (toward).
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient aspergere "to sprinkle on", to sprinkle on, from ad- and spargere.
3. Stage 3 · Latin · ancient aspersio "a sprinkling, a damaging remark", a sprinkling, later a damaging remark spread about someone, from aspergere.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1500s aspersion "a critical or damaging remark about someone", settled as the English word for a critical or damaging remark about someone.