Spitting

*Sputatio* is a term in philology that means “to throw out in words.” It refers to an expression in language that is used to express angry protest against the decisions or behavior of other people. *Sputatum*, the Latin term, is probably derived from the Greek word for saliva or phlegm.

The history of use of *sputatio* dates back to antiquity and the Middle Ages, when the expression was part of ritual speeches and addresses. The Bible mentions that the Jews used it in their prayers to protest the blasphemous acts of the pagan priests. This expression also occurred in various forms and combinations during early Protestantism, when the word was equated with the concept of divine curse. The word became important in defending the Christian faith against wrong views and was used against paganism and other religious denominations. *Sputatios* and larger phrases such as *perturbation* (Latin for "confusion") and *dissatisfaction* were widespread in the literary and cultural realms of early Christianity and were used as a context for expressions of the love of God and hatred of Satan. . This tradition continued until the 19th century, when it was almost forgotten in classical language. However, remnants of it still exist in some modern book titles and poetry in English.