A disparaging remark:
— In the 19th century any reference to female sexuality was considered a vile aspersion.

synonym: slur.

Roget 998: rite; ceremony, ritual, liturgy, ceremonial; ordinance, observance, function, duty; form, formulary; solemnity, sacrament; incantation etc. (spell) 993; service, psalmody etc. (worship) 990.    ministration; preaching, preachment; predication, sermon, homily, lecture, discourse, pastoral.    [Christian ritual for induction into the faith] baptism, christening, chrism; circumcision; baptismal regeneration; font.    confirmation; imposition of hands, laying on of hands; ordination etc. (churchdom) 995; excommunication.    [Jewish rituals] Bar Mitzvah, Bas Mitzvah [Fr.], Bris.    Eucharist, Lord's supper, communion; the sacrament, the holy sacrament; celebration, high celebration; missa cantata [Lat.]; asperges^†; offertory; introit; consecration; consubstantiation, transubstantiation; real presence; elements; mass; high mass, low mass, dry mass.    matrimony etc. 903; burial etc. 363; visitation of the sick.    seven sacraments, impanation^†, subpanation^†, extreme unction, viaticum, invocation of saints, canonization, transfiguration, auricular confession; maceration, flagellation, sackcloth and ashes; penance etc. (atonement) 952; telling of beads, processional; thurification^†, incense, holy water, aspersion.    relics, rosary, beads, reliquary, host, cross, rood, crucifix, pax [Lat.], pyx, agnus Dei [Lat.], censer, thurible, patera^†; eileton^†, Holy Grail; prayer machine, prayer wheel; Sangraal^†, urceus^†.    ritualism, ceremonialism; sabbatism^†, sabbatarianism^†; ritualist, sabbatarian^†.    holyday, feast, fast.    [Christian holy days] Sabbath, Pentecost; Advent, Christmas, Epiphany; Lent; Passion week, Holy week; Easter, Easter Sunday, Whitsuntide; agape, Ascension Day, Candlemas^†, Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, Holy Thursday; Lammas, Martinmas, Michaelmas; All SAint's DAy, All Souls' Day.    [Moslem holy days] Ramadan, Ramazan; Bairam &c.. etc. [Jewish holy days] Passover; Shabuoth; Yom Kippur, Day of Atonement; Rosh Hashana, New Year; Hanukkah, Chanukkah, Feast of Lights; Purim, Feast of lots.    ... show more

Roget 73: dispersion; disjunction etc. 44; divergence etc. 291; aspersion; scattering etc. v.; dissemination, diffusion, dissipation, distribution; apportionment etc. 786; spread, respersion^†, circumfusion^†, interspersion, spargefaction^†; affusion^†.    waifs and estrays^†, flotsam and jetsam, disjecta membra [Lat.], [Horace]; waveson^†.    ... show more

Roget 908: malediction, malison^†, curse, imprecation, denunciation, execration, anathema, ban, proscription, excommunication, commination^†, thunders of the Vatican, fulmination, maranatha^†; aspersion, disparagement, vilification, vituperation.    abuse; foul language, bad language, strong language, unparliamentary language; billingsgate, sauce, evil speaking; cursing etc. v.; profane swearing, oath; foul invective, ribaldry, rude reproach, scurrility.    threat etc. 909; more bark than bite; invective etc. (disapprobation) 932.    ... show more

Dutch: geroddel, kwaadsprekerij, laster
Polish: łatka

An abusive attack on a person's character or good name.

synonyms: calumny, defamation, denigration, slander.

Roget 934: detraction, disparagement, depreciation, vilification, obloquy, scurrility, scandal, defamation, aspersion, traducement, slander, calumny, obtrectation^†, evil-speaking, backbiting, scandalum magnatum [Lat.].    personality, libel, lampoon, skit, pasquinade; chronique scandaleuse [Fr.]; roorback [U.S.].    sarcasm, cynicism; criticism (disapprobation) 932; invective etc. 932; envenomed tongue; spretae injuria formae [Lat.].    personality, libel, lampoon, skit, pasquinade; chronique scandaleuse [Fr.]; roorback [U.S.].    detractor etc. 936.    ... show more

Dutch: belastering, geklets, geroddel, vuilspuiterij, kwatongerij, zwartmakerij, roddelpraat, roddel, diffamatie, kwaadsprekerij, achterklap, smaad, laster, belediging ... show more

The act of sprinkling water in baptism (rare).

synonym: sprinkling.