Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A brush, or oftener a metallic instrument, used by the priest in Roman Catholic churches for sprinkling holy water. Also called aspergillus, aspergillum, aspergill.
  • noun A holy-water stoup or font. Parker, Concise Glossary.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun The stoup, basin, or other vessel for holy water in Roman Catholic churches.
  • noun A brush for sprinkling holy water; an aspergill.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun a basin that holds holy water with which worshippers sprinkle themselves
  • noun an aspergillum

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun the basin or other vessel that holds holy water in Roman Catholic Churches
  • noun a short-handled device with a globe containing a sponge; used for sprinkling holy water

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Latin aspergere ("to sprinkle")

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word aspersorium.

Examples

  • Thenceforth the aspersorium was the inseparable accompaniment of the font.

    The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 7: Gregory XII-Infallability 1840-1916 1913

  • After dark he will not move a yard from his camp without a flaring torch of paper bark, a fiery aspersorium for the scaring of the “debil-debil.”

    The Confessions of a Beachcomber 2003

  • Quietly the maid withdrew to a corner of the apartment where she seated herself on a low stool, her fingers idly playing with the delicate carvings of a vase of silver, containing water that had been blessed and standing conveniently near the aspersorium.

    Under the Rose Frederic Stewart Isham

  • Vignale in his sacerdotal robes, with young Henry Bertrand at his side, bearing an aspersorium; Doctors Arnott and Antommarchi, the persons entrusted with the superintendence of the hearse, drawn by four horses, led by grooms, and escorted by twelve grenadiers without arms, on each side; these last were to carry the coffin on their shoulders as soon as the ruggedness of the road prevented the hearse from advancing; young

    Complete Project Gutenberg Collection of Memoirs of Napoleon Various

  • A brush or aspersorium, used for sprinkling holy water, was leaning against the wall.

    Under the Rose Frederic Stewart Isham

  • It would seem that about the thirteenth century the aspersorium assumed the modern form of a stick surmounted by a rose covered with bristles; at least such is what we infer from miniatures.

    The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 7: Gregory XII-Infallability 1840-1916 1913

  • In the Middle Ages holy water was held in such respect that it was not even taken from the font unless by means of an aspersorium or holy water sprinkler, attached by a small chain.

    The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 7: Gregory XII-Infallability 1840-1916 1913

  • Christian aspersorium show a branch that was dipped into the font.

    The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 7: Gregory XII-Infallability 1840-1916 1913

  • After dark he will not move a yard from his camp without a flaring torch of paper bark, a fiery aspersorium for the scaring of the "debil-debil."

    Confessions of a Beachcomber 1887

  • Nils (places a box on the floor, opens it, and begins to take out aspersorium, censer, chrismatory, palms, and candles).

    Master Olof : a Drama in Five Acts August Strindberg 1880

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.