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,” the moisture, sweat, upon walls, 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,” opposite to the falling rain, Lucr. 6, 525 Lachm.: “Objectae salsā spumant aspargine cautes,” the spray, 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,” by means of the sprinkled blood, id. ib. 4, 125 al.
