Definition
Negative or damaging remarks about someone's character or reputation; unfounded criticism or insinuation.
Etymology
Plural of 'aspersion,' from Latin 'aspersio' (a sprinkling). The figurative meaning developed because spreading damaging rumors was compared to sprinkling or scattering something bad across a person's reputation.
Kelly Says
The phrase 'cast aspersions on someone' is still common today, and it beautifully preserves the original metaphor—you're 'casting' or 'throwing' negative comments like casting water in a spray. Medieval people understood reputation could be damaged by gossip the same way water could dampen something!
Translations
CACatalà
aspersions
as-per-syohn
CSČeština
obvinění
ob-vi-ne-ni
DADansk
anklager
an-kla-ger
DEDeutsch
Verleumdungen
ver-laym-dung-en
ELΕλληνικά
κατασπασμός
kata-spas-mos
ESEspañol
aspersiones
as-per-see-oh-nes
FISuomi
syytökset
syy-to-k-set
FRFrançais
aspersions
as-per-syohn
GUGU
શિરોમણી
shi-ro-ma-ni
HEעברית
הכפשות
ha-k-f-she-t
HIहिन्दी
दोषारोपण
do-sha-ro-pa-na
HUMagyar
beszédes
bes-zhed-es
IDBahasa Indonesia
tuduhan
tu-du-han
ITItaliano
aspersioni
as-per-zee-oh-nee
MRMR
शिरोमणी
shi-ro-ma-ni
MSBahasa Melayu
tuduhan
tu-du-han
NLNederlands
aspersie
as-per-see
NONorsk
anklager
an-kla-ger
PAPA
ਪਾਣੀ ਸਪਰinkler
paani sap-rin-kler
PLPolski
oszczerki
os-cher-kee
PTPortuguês
aspersões
as-per-soh-es
RORomână
înjurături
in-jur-a-turi
RUРусский
оскорбления
os-kor-ble-niya
SVSvenska
anklagelser
an-klag-el-ser
TAதமிழ்
குற்றச்சாட்டு
kutt-ra-cha-ttu
TEతెలుగు
రూపకల్పన
roo-pa-kal-pa-na
THไทย
ข้อตำหนิ
khor-tam-ni
TLTL
pag-aakusa
pa-ga-a-ku-sa
UKУкраїнська
оскарження
os-kar-zhen-nya
VITiếng Việt
bóc lột
bok lot
ZUZU
isithunzi
i-si-thunzi