despoil (redirected from despoils)

de·spoil  (d-spoil)

tr.v. de·spoiled, de·spoil·ing, de·spoils

1. To sack; plunder.

2. To deprive of something valuable by force; rob: a region despoiled of its scenic beauty by unchecked development.

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[Middle English despoilen, from Old French despoillier, from Latin dspolire : d-, de- + spolire, to plunder (from spolium, booty).]

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de·spoiler n.

de·spoilment n.

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despoil

Verb

Formal to plunder [Latin despoliare]

despoliation n

Thesaurus

Verb	1.	despoil - steal goods; take as spoils; "During the earthquake people looted the stores that were deserted by their owners" foray, pillage, ransack, reave, rifle, loot, plunder, strip take - take by force; "Hitler took the Baltic Republics"; "The army took the fort on the hill" deplume, displume - strip of honors, possessions, or attributes
	2.	despoil - destroy and strip of its possession; "The soldiers raped the beautiful country" rape, plunder, violate, spoil ruin, destroy - destroy completely; damage irreparably; "You have ruined my car by pouring sugar in the tank!"; "The tears ruined her make-up"