bespatterv.
/bɪˈspatə/ 1. transitive. To spatter over; to cover with small spots of wet mud or anything of like consistency.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > liquid > liquid flow > action or process of splashing > splash [verb (transitive)] > bespatter
spirtle?1606
spattle1611
sprent1616
spurtle1633
bespatter1674
splash1699
spatter1718
sparge1786
splutter1835
slob1851
splatter1888
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > dirtiness > dirt > soiled condition > soil [verb (transitive)] > splash or splatter
slotterc1340
again-sprengea1382
resperse1482
besparkle1485
besperple1529
dash1530
bespattle1551
slobber1554
bespurt1579
besquatter1611
besquirt1611
bespurtle1616
bespatter1674
splash1699
spatter1718
spark1806
spluttera1869
splatter1888
the world > space > relative position > arrangement or fact of being arranged > state of being scattered or dispersed > scatter [verb (transitive)] > sprinkle > sprinkle (a surface) with something
besprengc1000
strinklea1300
to-sprenga1382
sparkle14..
sprinkle?a1425
besprinklec1440
asperse1490
spray1527
asperge1547
pepper?1605
bepeps1622
conspergate1623
bescatter1631
spurtle1633
spatter1647
consperge1657
superfuse1657
bespatter1674
superseminate1699
asperge1721
sparge1786
spray1861
1674 Govt. Tongue v. §9. 123 Those who will not take vice into their bosoms, shall yet have it bespatter their faces.
1844 C. Thirlwall Hist. Greece VIII. lxvi. 447 They..were even bespattered with mud.
2. To spatter about; to scatter or cast (anything) so that it sticks in spots on surrounding objects.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > arrangement or fact of being arranged > state of being scattered or dispersed > scatter [verb (transitive)] > sprinkle
warpc1000
sprengeOE
strenkc1175
springa1387
bespring1387
sprinkc1390
sprinklea1400
strinklec1400
springle?a1425
sprinkle?a1425
sprainc1440
bespreng1496
oversprinkle?1548
overstrew1570
besprent1573
insperse1587
insperge1599
asperse1607
besprink1609
disparple?1615
spark1637
swiggle1683
twirl1763
sparkle1787
bespatter1813
spray1829
1813 Examiner 1 Feb. 80/1 [He] had..literally bespattered his brains about the floor.
3. figurative. To asperse (with abuse, blame, flattery, praise, etc.). Generally in a bad sense even when praise is in question.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disapproval > invective or abuse > abuse [verb (transitive)]
vilea1300
rebutc1330
revilea1393
arunt1399
stainc1450
brawl1474
vituper1484
rebalk1501
to call (rarely to speak) (all) to naught1542
rattle1542
vituperate1542
bedaub1570
beray1576
bespurt1579
wring1581
misuse1583
caperclaw1589
abuse1592
rail1592
exagitate1593
to shoot atc1595
belabour1596
to scour one's mouth on1598
bespurtle1604
conviciate1604
scandala1616
delitigate1623
betongue1639
bespatter1644
rant1647
palt1648
opprobriatea1657
pelt1658
proscind1659
inveigh1670
clapperclaw1692
blackguard1767
philippize1804
drub1811
foul-mouth1822
bullyrag1823
target1837
barge1841
to light on ——1842
slang1844
villainize1857
slangwhang1880
slam-bang1888
vituperize1894
bad-mouth1941
slag1958
zing1962
to dump on (occasionally all over)1967
1644 C. Jessop Angel Church of Ephesus 24 Bishop Halls titles of honour wherewith he doth bespatter them.
1759 Let. to Methodists Bespattering with your dirty hints and innuendoes the whole body of its Clergy.
1819 R. Southey Select. from Lett. (1856) III. 150 I shall get plentifully bespattered with abuse.
1844 J. Ruskin Mod. Painters (ed. 2) I. Pref. p. xxvi He..bespatters with praise the canvass which a crowd concealed from him.
1858 F. W. Robertson Lect. 244 Bespattered with applause.
4. spec. To cover with abuse; to vilify or slander.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disrepute > damage to reputation > slander or calumny > slander or calumniate [verb (transitive)]
to say or speak shame of, on, byc950
teleeOE
sayOE
to speak evil (Old English be) ofc1000
belie?c1225
betell?c1225
missayc1225
skandera1300
disclanderc1300
wrenchc1300
bewrayc1330
bite1330
gothele1340
slanderc1340
deprave1362
hinderc1375
backbite1382
blasphemec1386
afamec1390
fame1393
to blow up?a1400
defamea1400
noise1425
to say well (also evil, ill, etc.) of (also by)1445
malignc1450
to speak villainy of1470
infame1483
injury1484
painta1522
malicea1526
denigrate1526
disfamea1533
misreporta1535
sugill?1539
dishonest?c1550
calumniate1554
scandalize1566
ill1577
blaze1579
traduce1581
misspeak1582
blot1583
abuse1592
wronga1596
infamonize1598
vilify1598
injure?a1600
forspeak1601
libel1602
infamize1605
belibel1606
calumnize1606
besquirt1611
colly1615
scandala1616
bedirt1622
soil1641
disfigurea1643
sycophant1642
spatter1645
sugillate1647
bespattera1652
bedung1655
asperse1656
mischieve1656
opprobriatea1657
reflect1661
dehonestate1663
carbonify1792
defamate1810
mouth1810
foul-mouth1822
lynch1836
rot1890
calumny1895
ding1903
bad-talk1938
norate1938
bad-mouth1941
monster1967
a1652 A. Wilson Hist. Great Brit. (1653) Proem, sig. A3v If Ignorance or Malice attempts to hack, hew, or bespatter it.
1709 R. Steele Tatler No. 115. ⁋1 Punch who takes all opportunities of bespattering me.
1747 S. Richardson Clarissa II. xxxi. 182 I will convince you, that I am basely bespattered.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1887; most recently modified version published online March 2019).
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