The word is formed of the Latin aspergere, 'to sprinkle', of ad, 'to', and spargo, 'I scatter' (Ezekiel 36:25–26, 1 Corinthians 10:2, cf.
[citation needed] However, when a person could not be immersed, baptism by aspersion or affusion was performed.
Because of its rarity, doubts arose about its validity, as is shown by St. Cyprian's affirming it in the face of questioning.
[citation needed] In the West, baptism by aspersion and affusion slowly became the common practice in later centuries.
The Roman Catholic Church regards baptism by aspersion as valid only if the water actually flows on the person's skin and is thus equivalent to pouring ("affusion").