besprinklev.
/bɪˈsprɪŋk(ə)l/ 1.
a. transitive. To sprinkle all over with small drops (of liquid), or with powdery substance, as flour, salt.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > liquid > liquid flow > action or process of sprinkling > sprinkle liquid or something with liquid [verb (transitive)] > sprinkle something with liquid > over or all over
besprengc1000
berainc1374
bespring1387
besprinklec1440
over-strinklec1485
besprink1609
bequirtle1690
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
c1440 Gesta Romanorum (1879) 26 That was all besprengild with his blessyd blode.
1534 T. More Treat. Passion in Wks. 1295/2 They shoulde bysprincle the postes..with the bloud.
1622 R. Hawkins Observ. Voiage South Sea xvi. 36 To keepe cleane the Shippe, to besprinkle her ordinarily with Vineger.
1781 E. Gibbon Decline & Fall III. lii. 273 The walls were besprinkled with holy water.
1835 Paul Antiq. Greece i. ii. iv. §8 [He] was also thrice besprinkled with water.
b. predicated of the fluid.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > liquid > liquid flow > action or process of sprinkling > sprinkle liquid or something with liquid [verb (transitive)] > sprinkle liquid > all over
besprinkle1737
1737 R. Glover Leonidas v. 657 The gory drops besprinkled all his shield.
1872 C. H. Spurgeon Treasury of David III. Ps. lxvi. 14 Scarce a drop of rain would venture to besprinkle their splendour.
2. figurative. To strew with (comparatively) small things scattered about; to spot, to dot; to intersperse with any elements diffused throughout.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > condition or state of being mixed or blended > mix or blend [verb (transitive)] > add as ingredient to a mixture > qualify by admixture > diversify by intermixture
lace1485
interlace1531
intermingle1553
besprinkle1561
interlard1570
commix1847
1561 T. Norton tr. J. Calvin Inst. Christian Relig. iii. f. 258 All our good workes are continually besprinckled with many filthy spottes.
1646 Sir T. Browne Pseudodoxia Epidemica i. viii. 29 [He] hath besprinkled his worke with many fabulosities.
1670 J. Eachard Grounds Contempt of Clergy 40 Besprinkling all their Sermons with plenty of Greek and Latin.
1842 C. Dickens Amer. Notes I. v. 187 Sloping banks..besprinkled with pleasant villas.
1862 E. Wallace tr. F. Mendelssohn-Bartholdy Lett. from Italy & Switzerland 307 We..besprinkled each other mutually with great praise.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > liquid > condition of being or making wet > make wet [verb (transitive)] > by a stream of liquid
spout1575
besprinkle1612
1612 J. Speed Theatre of Empire of Great Brit. i. xxxi. 59/1 Vallies besprinkled with many sweet springs.
1623 tr. A. Favyn Theater of Honour & Knight-hood ii. xiii. 202 A million of Riuers that water and besprinkle France.
Derivatives
beˈsprinkled adj.
ΚΠ
1831 Metropolitan 1 88 I was not the least hurt, but waited long enough for the besprinkled gentleman to get into the drawing-room.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1887; most recently modified version published online March 2021).
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