Welcome to Wondrous Words Wednesday, a great meme for word nerds! Visit Kathy at Bermuda Onion for more great words.
I’m currently re-reading I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak for my book club. Some teenagers I know call this book “life changing,” but so far, I’m not getting it. Zusak has a very distinct style- sometimes beautifully poetic, often staccato. Lots of “telling”- somehow, he gets away with it. (In the writing world, we often hear, “show, don’t tell.”)
Here’s a quote from Ed Kennedy, the main character of I am the Messenger, while he testifies at a trial:
The judge chimes in now. “And as for ugly – Mr. Kennedy, could you please refrain from casting such aspersions? You’re not an oil painting yourself, you know.”
aspersion \ə-‘spər-zhen, -shən\ noun, from Latin aspersus, from ad– + spargere to scatter; 1)sprinkling with water especially in religious ceremonies; 2) a false misleading charge meant to harm someone’s reputation; 3) the act of making such a charge
I’m Catholic and never knew there was a name for the sprinkling of holy water that goes on in church, especially around Easter. Thanks Wondrous Words! Here, obviously, Zusak is using the second meaning, a misleading charge.
Word Nerd Workout
Use aspersion in a sentence. For example,
Claire fumed while she listened to the girls spread aspersions about her friend at the lunch table.
Spread the word on Twitter: Word nerd word: aspersion = a false misleading charge, via @juliatomiak
Your turn! Thanks for getting nerdy with me today!
Julia
I’ve only heard aspersion used in spreading rumors in order to hurt someone. Here’s my sentence:
Some people cast aspersions on others in order to make themselves feel more important.
I never knew about meaning #1 either. I liked I Am the Messenger, except for the ending portion. (Then again, I’m a big fan of Zusak’s poetic style. I didn’t think that could be done with YA books!)
Aspersion is such a great word, but I’m not sure that you can spread aspersions, I’ve only ever heard it used with aspersions being cast. I’ve only ever heard it being used in this way, and not the sprinkling of holy water- it makes you wonder at those two meanings.
You’re right, Louise. I’ve mostly seen “cast” as the verb- but spread is similar, right?
I’ve used aspersions before, usually when chiding a family member about mean-spirited gossip. I didn’t know the religious meaning but it makes sense.
I never knew about the religious meaning of the word aspersion, interesting.
My parents gave this advice, “don’t cast aspersions when you haven’t walked a mile in the other person’s shoes.”
I didn’t know about the ceremonial meaning of the word.
Excellent advice – that I’ll have to share with my own children. Thanks Joy!
Add me to the list of people who never knew aspersion was the sprinkling of holy water!
I didn’t know the sprinkling of holy water was called aspersion either! And interesting how that sprinkling is supposed to be a good thing in church — but the other definitions are all about sprinkling bad thoughts and idea over a person. Another one of those strange, contradictory words in our language!
Beautifully analyzed, Dianne. It does seem like a paradox. I’m glad you’re nerdy like me. 🙂