As a follow up to last week’s word, vindicate, I examine the word, aspersion. When I couldn’t find the item that I was looking for, I cast aspersions on Patti for not putting it back where it belonged. In the end she was vindicated, as it was my fault for misplacing the item. If you are casting aspersions, you are suggesting that someone’s character or work is questionable or substandard, even though you know they are not usually that way.
Aspersion means a false or misleading charge against someone, occasionally with intent to harm that person’s reputation. The politician was known to cast aspersions about his opponents during his speeches, so it was hard to trust what he was saying about anything. Harming someone's reputation with falsehoods in a speech is known as slander, and doing the same thing in writing is known as libel. Any private citizen who can claim to have suffered harm because of such defamation may sue. So why aren't politicians suing continuously for casting aspersions? Because an exception is often made for public persons. To successfully sue a politician or celebrity one must prove that any such statement was made with reckless disregard for the truth. Political opponents most often just grin and bear it.
Why do we use the phrase ‘casting aspersions?’ Because it comes from the original use of the word. In the late 1500s aspersion was a sprinkling with water in religious ceremonies. At a baptism the priest in Roman Catholic circles or the pastor in Protestant congregations used aspersion as the means of applying the water to the child or adult. The Orthodox churches used immersion into the water and some heirs of the Protestants followed suit, especially those who practiced adult baptisms only. When the whole congregation was sprinkled with holy water in remembrance of baptism or for spiritual cleansing, through the means of an aspergillum (small, perforated container with a handle), it was called an aspersion. Over time the act of casting water as an aspersion led to the naming of casting untruths or accusations upon others as aspersion.
Aspersion is derived from the Latin verb aspergere, meaning to sprinkle on. (Spargere is Latin for sprinkle, scatter, or strew.) The Latin theological term for the shedding of Christ’s blood is aspercion. “No sweet aspersion shall the heavens let fall; to make this contract grow.” (The Tempest by William Shakespeare) In this line aspersion refers to a sprinkling of blessing, referencing a sprinkling of rain.
In the Old Testament books of the Bible sprinkling was part of the ritual to consecrate priests and holy things. “Then you shall take part of the blood that is on the altar, and of the anointing oil, and sprinkle it on Aaron and his garments, and on his sons and his sons’ garments with him. He and his garments shall be holy, and his sons and his sons’ garments with him.” (Exodus 29:21) It is blood that is used not water for the aspersion, but it foreshadows the aspersion of water in the Christian context. “I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you,” declares the Lord through the prophet, (Ezekiel 36:25) is a more direct foreshadow of Christian rites of aspersion. Blood certainly causes spots, however, splattering water can cause soil and stain, even though that it not the intent. So, aspersion became associated with comments that stain or soil a reputation with intent to impinge the truth.
“I don’t mean to cast aspersions on Jake’s ability to do this job, but he seems to have trouble finishing tasks on time.” Even though the speaker did not want to mislead anyone about Jake’s ability, just using the word aspersion suggests misleading information about Jake’s capability.
“Despite the rumours, she refused to cast any aspersions until she had all the facts, which was the right thing to do.” She did not want to mislead anyone into believing rumours that may not be true.
I should have been a little more careful in my aspersions towards Patti the other week. I certainly do not desire to soil her reputation.
John would like to know if anyone has a sincere interest in a relevant word that he could possibly research for an upcoming column. If so, please send your requests to wordwisdom2021@gmail.com . Words will be selected according to relevance and research criteria. We cannot confirm that all words will be used.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the position of this publication.
