aspergo

I. A sprinkling, besprinkling (most freq. in the poets, never in Cic., who uses aspersio, q. v.): aspergo aquarum, Ov. M. 7, 108: aquae, Petr. 102, 15: (Peneus) Nubila conducit, summasque aspergine silvas Impluit, Ov. M. 1, 572: sanguis virides aspergine tinxerat herbas, id. ib. 3, 86; 3, 683 al.: Aspergine et gelu pruinisque (lapides) rumpuntur, Plin. 36, 22, 48, § 167: parietum, Cato, R. R. 128; so Vitr. 5, 11, 1, and Plin. 22, 21, 30, § 63.— Trop.: omni culparum aspergine liber, Prud. Apoth. 1005.—

II. Meton. (abstr. for concr.), that which is sprinkled, drops: hic ubi sol radiis .... Adversa fulsit nimborum aspargine contra, Lucr. 6, 525 Lachm.: Objectae salsā spumant aspargine cautes, Verg. A. 3, 534: Flammiferā gemini fumant aspergine postes, Ov. M. 14, 796: maduere graves aspergine pennae, id. ib. 4, 729: arborei fetus aspergine caedis in atram Vertuntur faciem, id. ib. 4, 125 al.