| 释义 |
▪ I. spoil, n.|spɔɪl|
Forms: 4, 6–7 spoyle, 4, 6–8 spoile, 4, 6– spoil, 6 spoylle, 7–8 spoyl; 4–5 spuyle, 5 spuyl. See also spulyie.
[ad. OF. espoille, espuille, f. espoillier (see next); or directly f. spoil v.1 In senses 5–6 after L. spolium, pl. spolia.
As in the verb, there are notable gaps in the continuity of the older senses.]
I.
1. Goods, esp. such as are valuable, taken from an enemy or captured city in time of war; the possessions of which a defeated enemy is deprived or stripped by the victor; in more general sense, any goods, property, territory, etc., seized by force, acquired by confiscation, or obtained by similar means; booty, loot, plunder. a. In collective sing.
13..K. Alis. 986 (Laud MS.), Alisaundre took þe spoyle of þe cite. Ibid. 2555 After þat was parted þe spoyle. 1382Wyclif Jer. xxi. 9 Who forsothe shul..flee to the Caldeis that besegen ȝou, shal lyue, and be shal to hym his soule as spoile. 1530Palsgr. 274 Spoyle that is gotten in warfare, despoille. 1568Grafton Chron. II. 300 All suche as were at this battayle, were all made riche..by wynning of Golde, Siluer, plate, and Jewels, that was there found in the spoyle. 1582N. Lichefield tr. Castanheda's Conq. E. Ind. 163 With this spoyle the king of Calicut remained..ill contented. 1607Shakes. Cor. v. vi. 44 That we look'd For no lesse Spoile, then Glory. 1671Milton Samson 1203 As on my enemies, where ever chanc'd, I us'd hostility, and took thir spoil. 1774Goldsm. Nat. Hist. (1776) VIII. 122 If they meet with an insect,..several of them will fall upon it at once, and having mangled it, each will carry off a part of the spoil. 1781Gibbon Decl. & F. (1787) III. 467 They were more ambitious of spoil than of glory. 1821Scott Pirate vii, Several of the people..of Jarlshof were now hastening along the beach, to have their share in the spoil. 1838Thirlwall Greece xliii. V. 270 He led his army back..laden with the spoil of Locris. 1876Mathews Coinage of World xiv. 123 Prussia and Austria then attacked Denmark and took Holstein and Schleswig from it, finally quarrelling over the spoil.
fig.1697Dryden Virg. Georg. i. 411 To gather Laurel⁓berries, and the Spoil Of bloody Myrtles. 1816Byron Prisoner of Chillon i, My limbs are..rusted with a vile repose, For they have been a dungeon's spoil.
b. In pl. Also more fully in the spoils of war.
(a)a1340Hampole Psalter cxviii. 162, I sall be glad on þi wordis as he þat fyndis spoils many. 1382Wyclif Gen. xlix. 27 The morwen tide he shall eete a pray, and the euen⁓tide he shal dyuyde spoylis. ― Luke xi. 22 Sothli if a strongere comynge aboue ouercome him, he..schal dele abrood his spuylis. 1535Coverdale 2 Macc. viii. 27 So they toke their weapens and spoyles & kepte the Sabbath, geuynge, thankes vnto the Lorde. 1591Shakes. 1 Hen. VI, ii. i. 80, I haue loaden me with many Spoyles, Vsing no other Weapon but his Name. 1601R. Johnson Kingd. & Commw. (1603) 167 The Tartars choosing this for their seate and countrie, beautified it with the spoiles of Asia. 1654Bramhall Just Vind. iii. (1661) 37 Why did they not..preserve the spoiles of the cloisters for publick and charitable uses? 1712Hearne Collect. (O.H.S.) III. 311 Offering to him the Spoyls of the Enemy. 1746Francis tr. Horace, Epist. ii. ii. 36 A common Soldier, who by various Toils And Perils gain'd a Competence in Spoils. 1790Burke Fr. Rev. Wks. 1907 IV. 59 Are the curates to be seduced from their bishops, by holding out to them the delusive hope of a dole out of the spoils of their own order? 1823Scott Quentin D. xiii, A rich Turkey carpet, the spoils of the tent of a Pacha after the great battle of Jaiza. 1868J. H. Blunt Ref. Ch. Eng. I. 325 The great spoils of which the king had possessed himself. 1891Farrar Darkn. & Dawn lxi, Informers who had recently been enriched with the spoils of the innocent.
fig.1667Milton P.L. iv. 159 Now gentle gales..dispense Native perfumes, and whisper whence they stole Those balmie spoiles. 1774Goldsm. Nat. Hist. (1776) I. 133 The new islands which are sometimes formed from the spoils of the continent.
(b)1697Dryden Virg. Georg. iv. 810 Mighty Cæsar, thund'ring from afar, Seeks on Euphrates' Banks the Spoils of War. 1865C. Stanford Symb. Christ i. (1878) 6 Who after a long pursuit recovered the prisoners with all the spoils of war. 1892tr. Villari's Machiavelli ii. iv. II. 184 Only of the spoils of war has the prince the right to be lavish.
c. transf. That which is or has been acquired by special effort or endeavour; esp. objects of art, books, etc., collected in this way.
Sometimes with slight suggestion of the primitive sense.
1750Gray Elegy 50 But Knowledge to their eyes her ample page Rich with the spoils of time did ne'er unroll. 1751H. Walpole Lett. (1846) II. 390, I had just seen her collection,..composed of the spoils of her father's and the Arundel collections. 1820Hazlitt Table-T. xvii. (1911) 252 The Louvre is stripped of its triumphant spoils. 1868G. Duff Pol. Surv. 7, I found him surrounded by the literary spoils which he had brought across the Alps. 1892Daily News 23 Dec. 6/4 The plates represent the spoil of all the great galleries of Europe.
†d. pl. (See quots.) Obs. [F. dépouilles.]
1725tr. Dupin's Eccl. Hist. 17th Cent. I. ii. iii. 48 The Name of Spoils was given to the Goods the Clergy left at their Demise. 1772tr. J. F. de Isla's Friar Gerund iv. ii. 21 His spoils (so it is usual in communities to call the effects left by the deceased Religious) consisted almost intirely of his manuscript sermons.
e. The public offices, or positions of emolument, distributed among the supporters of a successful political party on its accession to power. Chiefly U.S. and in pl.
sing.1770Junius Lett. xli. (1788) 232 Who is there so senseless as to renounce his share in a common benefit, unless he hopes to profit by a new division of the spoil? c1789Gibbon Mem. Misc. Wks. 1796 I. 164 From a principle of gratitude I adhered to the coalition: my vote was counted in the day of battle, but I was overlooked in the division of the spoil. 1812Massachusetts Ho. Repres. to Governor, The weaker members of the party..would be overlooked..; whilst the more powerful would disagree in the division of the spoil.
pl.1830J. S. Johnson in Congressional Deb. 2 Apr. 299 The country is treated as a conquered province, and the offices distributed among the victors, as the spoils of the war. 1843Whittier What is Slavery? Wks. 1889 III. 107 Leave these to parties contending for office, as the ‘spoils of victory’. 1888Bryce Amer. Commw. II. 271 The post of policeman is ‘spoils’ of the humbler order, but spoils equally divided between the parties.
2. a. The action or practice of pillaging or plundering; the carrying off or taking away of goods as plunder; rapine, spoliation. Now Obs. or arch.
Freq. c 1550–1625, esp. without article.
1532Cromwell in Merriman Life & Lett. (1902) I. 348 The hole spoyle and eloyning of the sayd goods & plate was made onely by the sayd Edmond Knyghtley. 1550T. Lever Serm. (Arb.) 94 Suche Scottes or Frenchemen, as makyng spoyle for theyr owne profit, would not spare to dystroye thys realme. 1592in J. Morris Troubles Cath. Forefathers (1877) 19 He..had a bag of money..which..he had before gotten by the spoil of Catholics. 1603Knolles Hist. Turks (1621) 79 So was the citie of Constantinople..for that time saued from saccage and spoile. 1648Gage West. Ind. 49 The City was yeelded to the spoil, and the Spaniards took the gold, plate and feathers. 1710O. Sansom Acc. Life 334 The continued cruelty, violence and spoil, that was made upon our Friends. 1823Scott Quentin D. xix, Well were the Liegois then assured, that..this Charles..would have given their town up to spoil. 1829― Rob Roy Introd., The alleged acts of spoil and violence on the MacLarens cattle.
personif.1589R. Robinson Gold. Mirr. (1851) 25 And greedy spoile spares not to spill, to pray on others good.
b. to make spoil of, to pillage or plunder; to extort or collect goods, provisions, etc., from.
1613–8Daniel Coll. Eng. Hist. Wks. (Grosart) IV. 164 [He] enters France in the chiefest time of their fruits, making spoil of all in his way. 1643R. Baker Chron. (1653) 229 The Welchmen..break into the borders of Herefordshire, making spoil and prey of the Country as freely as if they had leave to do it. 1891Farrar Darkn. & Dawn xxxii, In this way they made spoil of all the country side.
†3. An act or occasion of pillaging or plundering; an incursion for the sake of booty or plunder; a marauding expedition or raid. Obs.
1543–4Act 35 Hen. VIII, c. 12, The same Scottes..make..inuasions, spoyles, burnynges,..and depopulations in this his realme. 1585T. Washington tr. Nicholay's Voy. ii. ix. 43 The Turkes haue made dyuers rodes & spoiles into the same. a1586Sidney Arcadia (1622) 323 Lycurgus..went toward her, rather as to a spoile then to a fight. 1603Knolles Hist. Turks (1621) 1314 The fregats of Russia,..the which had continually made inroads and spoyles vpon his lands. 1646J. Temple Irish Reb. (1746) 214 The being found upon Examination guilty of the late Spoils committed most barbarously on the English.
4. An object or article of pillage, plunder, or spoliation; a prey.
1594Kyd Cornelia i. 90 The Rocks..if thou sholdst but touch, thou straight becomst A spoyle to Neptune. 1596Shakes. 1 Hen. IV, i. i. 74 And is not this an honourable spoyle? A gallant prize? 1791Cowper Iliad i. 24 So may the Gods who in Olympus dwell Give Priam's treasures to you for a spoil. 1808W. Wilson Hist. Dissent. Ch. I. 251 The Priory of the Holy Trinity..was fixed upon as an early spoil. 1821Bryant Ages xvi, Oh, Greece! thy flourishing cities were a spoil Unto each other.
II.
5. a. The arms and armour of a slain or defeated enemy as stripped off and taken by the victor; a set or suit of these. opime spoils [L. spolia opima]: (see quot. 1770 and opime a.).
a1547Surrey æneid ii. 352 Ay me, what one? that Hector how vnlike, Which erst returnd clad with Achilles spoiles. 1601Holland Pliny I. 170 Before he was full 17 yeres of age, hee had gained already two complete spoiles of his enemies. 1611Sir W. Mure Mes Amours Wks. (S.T.S.) I. 10 Ye goddesse airmed With proud, presuming Cupid's conquered spoyle. 1697Dryden æneid ii. 359 Hector, who return'd, from toils Of war, triumphant in æacian spoils. 1718Pope Iliad xvi. 808 The radiant arms are by Patroclus borne; Patroclus' ships the glorious spoils adorn. 1770Langhorne Plutarch II. 366 What they take from the enemy in the field, they call by the general name of spoils, but these which a Roman general takes from the general of the enemy, they call opime spoils. 1810Davidson tr. Virgil (1843) 286, I vow that you..shall be clad in the spoils torn from the pirate's body.
transf.a1586Sidney Arcadia ii. xxviii, Thou God, whose youth was deckt with spoiles of Pythons skin.
fig.1768–74Tucker Lt. Nat. (1834) II. 659 Our abhorrences and tormenting passions,..were designed for our benefit, that in struggling with them we..gain the spolia opima, the richest spoils.
b. A single article acquired in this way.
1697Dryden æneid xii. 149 O pon'drous spoil [sc. a lance] of Actor slain. a1700Evelyn Diary Apr. 1646, A Turkish bridle..taken from a basshaw whom he had slain. With this glorious spoile I rid the rest of my journey as far as Paris.
6. a. The skin of a snake stripped or cast off, esp. that cast off naturally; the slough. Also pl. Now Obs. or arch.
1601Holland Pliny II. 363 As for the skinne or spoile of a snake, if it be put alone in a chist..it wil kil the moth. 1626Bacon Sylva §969 The Wearing of the Spoil of a Snake, for preserving of Health,..is but a Conceit: For that the Snake is thought to renew her Youth, by Casting her Spoil. 1638Rawley tr. Bacon's Life & Death (1650) 51 Like the old Skin, or Spoile of Serpents. 1742tr. Algarotti's Newton's Theory II. 200 Laying aside it's old Spoils like the Snake, it may again grow young.
b. The cast or stripped-off skin of any animal.
1664Power Exp. Philos. i. 12 House spiders have..a sleek thin skin: which they change once a moneth, sayes Muffet; though I hardly believe they cast their spoils so often. 1697Dryden Virg. Georg. iii. 589 Skins of Beasts, the rude Barbarians wear; The Spoils of Foxes, and the furry Bear. 1725Pope Odyss. iv. 593 She..from her azure car, the finny spoils Of four vast phocæ takes. 1906C. M. Doughty Dawn in Britain III. 42 With buskins of the spoil Of mountain broc.
c. pl. The remains of an animal body; the parts left intact or uneaten.
1695Woodward Nat. Hist. Earth i. (1723) 16 A Dissertation concerning Shells,..proving..that they are the real Spoils of once living Animals. Ibid. 26 These are the real Spoils and Remains of Sea-Animals. 1704Swift Batt. Bks. Wks. 1768 I. 177 Numbers of flies, whose spoils lay scattered before the gates of his [the spider's] palace. 1865G. F. Berkeley Life & Recoll. II. 313, I never found the remains of a tench..where were what we denominate the ‘Spoils’ of an otter.
III. 7. The action or fact of spoiling or damaging; damage, harm, impairment, or injury, esp. of a serious or complete kind. Now rare. a. With of (= inflicted on) or possessive pron.
1572in Feuillerat Rev. Q. Eliz. (1908) 409 To the grett hurt, spoylle, & dyscredyt of the same. 1592Kyd Murther J. Brewen Wks. (1901) 292 It is thou and no man else that can triumph in my spoyle. 1600Surflet Countrie Farme ii. lxvi. 414 They rotte and destroy the honie,..and the spoile of the honie causeth the bees to die. 1677Gilpin Demonol. (1867) 118 The like spoil of duty is made when we adventure upon it in our own strength. 1691T. H[ale] Acc. New Invent. 22 Were this Spoil of Iron-work chargeable with nothing but what is contained in the Lead and Nails.
b. With of (= caused by).
1575–85Abp. Sandys Serm. (1841) 69 Although God hitherto hath preserved his vineyard from the spoil of these foxes. 1682Penn No Cross xi. (ed. 2) 229 Poor Mortals!..who with all their Pride cannot secure themselves from the Spoil of Sickness. 1691Ray Creation (1714) 162 Guard them from the invasions and spoil of Beasts. 1820Shelley Sensit. Pl. iii. 25 The noonday sun..Mocking the spoil of the secret night.
c. Without const., or with upon; chiefly in phr. to do, make, etc. (great, much) spoil.
1575Turberv. Faulconrie 358 They will haue a disease in the backe,..and moreouer they shall be in daunger of vtter spoyle. 1596Drayton Legends ii. 549 Ruing the spoile done by his fatall hand. 1609C. Butler Fem. Mon. (1634) 43 Mice..which in Winter are wont to make much spoil. a1648Ld. Herbert Hen. VIII (1683) 562 Sir John Wallop..landed at Calais, and from thence..did much spoil upon the French. 1722De Foe Plague (1754) 154 Our three Travellers were obliged to keep the Road, or else they must commit Spoil, and do the Country a great deal of Damage in breaking down Fences and Gates. 1760Patrington Haven Act 23 To make such recompence..for any damage or spoil that may be done. 1888Pall Mall G. 28 Sept. 10/2 He was entitled..to raise minerals from the land, and to commit the necessary damage and spoil without making any compensation.
d. on spoil, spoiling. rare—1.
1750in Temple & Sheldon Hist. Northfield, Mass. (1875) 378 Thus poorly have our Garrisons been stored; whilst many Hundred Pair of Snow Shoes lie on Spoil some where or other.
†8.
a. An act or instance of spoiling, damaging, injuring, etc.; a damage, impairment, or injury; a piece or work of destruction. Obs.
1550T. Lever Serm. (Arb.) 95 In theyr doynges appeareth..a procedyng from euyl vnto worse, by an vncharitable spoyle, and deuyllyshe destruccion. 1581Mulcaster Positions xl. (1887) 225 At home spoiles, soilthes, twentie things, are nothing in the parentes homely eye. 1598J. Manwood Lawes Forest viii. (1615) 66 A wast of the forest is as much by common intendment, as to say, a spoile of the couerts or pasture of the forest. 1607Cowell Interpr., Waste..signifieth..a spoile made, either in houses, woods, gardens, orchards, &c. by the tenent for terme of life. 1660F. Brooke tr. Le Blanc's Trav. 19 They creepe up the trees, shake down the fruit, and make a great spoyle. a1722Lisle Husb. (1757) 442, I observed in the barley several full-grown ears withered lying along in a track of the field, which seemed to be a great spoil.
†b. A spoiler or destroyer of something. Obs.—1
c1611Chapman Iliad v. 331 Away flew Venus then, And after her cried Diomed: ‘Away, thou spoil of men’.
9.
†a. A spoiled or waste part of a timber-tree; wood of this kind. Obs.
1567in F. J. Baigent Crondal Rec. (1891) 167 The same tenauntes maye lawfully haue..all the loppes, toppes, barkes, spoyles, and offalles of all..tymbre..trees. 1609[see next].
†b. ? A piece of ground spoiled or rendered unserviceable in some way. Obs.—1
1609Mem. Ripon (Surtees) III. 334 Commons, Wastes, Spoils, Heaths, Moors, Fishings, Woods, Underwoods and Trees and the Spoil of the same woods.
c. Some thing spoiled or imperfectly executed, esp. in the process of manufacture.
1892Pall Mall G. 29 Dec. 3/1 At the termination of the printing the notes are finally counted and packed up for delivery. If there are any ‘spoils’ they are burned. 1898Westm. Gaz. 7 Mar. 7/1 The Progressives had already given way to the Moderates on two points, but the latter party now declared that this paper was a ‘spoil’.
d. In spoil-five: A drawn game.
1891in Cent. Dict.
10. techn. Earth or refuse material thrown or brought up in excavating, mining, dredging, etc.
1838F. W. Simms Publ. Wks. Gt. Brit. i. 62 About three hundred thousand yards will be taken from this cutting to the embankment north of New Cross, and the remaining quantity will be placed in spoil. The deposit of the spoil and the formation of the embankment are both proceeding rapidly. 1863Edin. Rev. Apr. 409 Countless mounds,..which have been gradually formed round the pits, by the accumulation of ‘spoil’, or rubbish which has been brought up from below. 1894Times 29 Jan. 14/2 The dredged material will be delivered by the buckets..into steel hoppers on either side of the vessel, each of which is capable of containing 7,000 cubic feet of spoil.
11. a. attrib. and Comb., chiefly in sense 10, as spoil-earth, spoil-ground, spoil-heap, spoil tip, etc.; also, in sense 1, spoil-hunting adj., spoil-taker. See also spoil bank.
1609Holland Amm. Marcell. xxv. viii. 274 The Romans..when they had..driven away the Saracen spoyle-takers [etc.]. 1848Buckley Iliad 67 The spoil-hunting daughter of Jove averted the deadly weapon. 1883Gresley Gloss. Coal-m. 232 Spoil-bank or Spoil-heap, the place on the surface where spoil is deposited. 1891S. C. Scrivener Our Fields & Cities 36 A quarry—a very old one, judging by the many large heaps of spoil-earth..over which grass had grown. 1927F. B. Young Portrait of Clare i. iii. 34 The black dome of the Mawne Road spoil-heap fell away on her left into the tree-softened contours of Mawne Bank. 1967Times Rev. Industry May 58/1 Around it [sc. Doncaster] stretches a flat, ill-drained corner of Yorkshire's West Riding, pockmarked with colliery spoil tips. 1972Times 4 July 3/2 A devastated landscape of abandoned slurry ponds and spoil tips. 1973Times 18 May 4/5 Above them towered the 300ft Eppleston spoilheap, started in the 1820s and at its peak containing well over 1,500,000 tons of red shale, dwarfing the houses.
b. In sense 1 e (pl.); esp. spoils system, the system or practice of a successful political party giving government or public offices, etc., to its supporters. See also spoilsman.
1833Whittier in Pickard Life & Lett. (1895) I. 170 To fall down and do homage to Andrew Jackson with the idolatrous ‘spoils party’ of the day. 1839R. Mayo Political Sk. Eight Years in Washington 40 Mr. Jefferson..authorized a friend to compromise with the federalists for..a guarantee against the spoils system. 1883Nation XXXVI. 539 According to the old ways of the spoilsmonger. 1888Bryce Amer. Commw. i. xxxiv. I. 521 The practice of dismissing Federal officials belonging to the opposite party, and appointing none but adherents of their own party to the vacant places,..is the so-called Spoils System.
▪ II. spoil, v.1|spɔɪl|
Pa. tense and pple. spoiled, spoilt. Forms: 4 spoili, 4– spoil, 4–6 spoyll, spoill (5 spoillen), 4–7 spoyle (5 -yn), spoile, 4–8 spoyl, 9 dial. spile, spwile; 4–5 spuyl(e, 5 spulen, spole. See also spulyie v.
[ad. OF. espoillier (espollier), = It. spogliare:—L. spoliāre, f. spolium: see spoil n. 5, 6. Perh. also to some extent an aphetic form of despoil v.
There are striking gaps in the continuity of some of the earlier senses (cf. the n.), and in senses 10–14 spoil has taken the place of the earlier spill v. The use of spoilt as well as spoiled for the pa. tense and pple., dating from the 17th cent., is restricted to senses 11–14.]
I.
1. a. trans. To strip or despoil (a dead or helpless person); esp. to strip (a defeated or slain enemy) of arms and armour. (Cf. 6.) Now arch.
13..Coer de L. 2058 The Griffons..Grete slaughter of our English maked, And spoiled the quick all naked. c1330R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 5432 (P.), Þat ylke noble Hamon Romayn Spoiled a Breton þat was slayn. c1400Destr. Troy 6416 To spoile that spilt kyng he sped ferr. 1450Rolls of Parlt. V. 212/2 The same mysdoers..murdred and slough the seid William Tresham and spoiled him and robbed hym. a1513Fabyan Chron. vi. (1811) 160 The prysoners..were so nere spoylyd, that they were fayne to take vyne leuys to couer with theyr secret membrys. 1600Holland Livy lxxix. 1249 When the conquerour was in disarming and spoiling him whom he had slaine. 1715Pope Iliad iv. 584 The Greeks with shouts press on, and spoil the dead. 1757W. Wilkie Epigoniad ii. 46 To spoil the slain the ardent victor flew. 1870Bryant Iliad iv. I. 129 So did the high-born Ajax spoil the corpse of Simoïsus.
†b. To disrobe, unclothe (a person); to divest of clothes. Obs.
c1375Sc. Leg. Saints xlvi. (Anastasia) 216 Þare-for he spoylit þaim in hy, þat he mycht nakit se þare flesch. c1386Chaucer Clerk's T. 318 (Petworth MS.), He bade Þat wommen shulden spulen hir riȝt þere. 1388Wyclif 2 Cor. v. 4 For that we wolen not be spuylid, but be clothid aboue.
†c. refl. To unclothe, undress, or disarm (oneself). Also with double object. Obs. rare.
1382Wyclif Song Sol. v. 3, I spoilede me my coote. a1400–50Alexander 4962 Þe kyng at his comaundment with his kniȝtis him spoilis, Puttis of to þe selfe serke.
†d. To strip or take off (arms). Obs.—1
c1611Chapman Iliad xv. 492 While these made-in to spoil his arms.
2. a. To strip (persons) of goods or possessions by violence or force; to plunder, rob, despoil. Also fig. Now rare or arch.
a1340Hampole Psalter ii. 9 Þou sall noght be tyraunt til þaim, to pil þaim & spoile þaim. 13..E.E. Allit. P. B. 1774 With mony a legioun ful large, with ledes of armes, Þat now has spyed a space to spoyle Caldeez. 1382Wyclif Exod. xii. 36 The Lord ȝaf grace to the puple before the Egipciens, that thei wolden leene hem; and thei spuyleden the Egipciens. c1400Pilgr. Sowle (Caxton, 1483) iii. vii. 54 By fals menes and subtyll extorcion they haue spoyled the pore peple. 1526Tyndale Acts ix. 21 Ys nott this he that spoylled them which called on this name? 1585T. Washington tr. Nicholay's Voy. i. v. 4 [They] had robbed & spoyled him. but..had restored vnto him that which was taken from him. 1624Quarles Job Milit. xiii. 55 Thy hands..have spoyl'd The hopeless Widdow, with her helplesse Child. 1651Hobbes Leviath. ii. xvii. 85 To robbe and spoyle one another, has been a Trade. 1692Washington tr. Milton's Def. People Eng. M.'s Wks. 1738 I. 491 We ought to pray for Highway-men, and for our Enemies... Not that they may plunder, spoil and murder us; but that they may repent. 1851D. Wilson Preh. Ann. iv. i. 490 The native chiefs of the [Orkney] islands and neighbouring coasts who had been spoiled and driven from their possessions by the Vikings. 1884Rider Haggard Dawn xxviii, He might even be able to spoil that Egyptian George.
transf.1697Dryden Virg. Georg. iv. 268 He spoils the Saffron Flow'rs, he sips the Blues Of Vi'lets.
†b. In pass. with objective complement. Obs.
1432–50tr. Higden (Rolls) IV. 443 Symple men were spoylede theire goodes.
3. a. To pillage or plunder (a country, city, house, ship, etc.); to clear of goods or valuables by the exercise of superior force; to ravage or sack.
Common in the 17th c.; now arch.
1382Wyclif Exod. iii. 22 Whanne ȝe gon out, ȝe shulen not goon out voyd;..and ȝe shulen spoyle Egipte. 1387Trevisa Higden (Rolls) VI. 327 After þat þe Danes hadde i-spoylled Londoun and Kent. Ibid. VIII. 107 Tweyne of þe kynges schippes were..i-spoyled by men of Cipres. 1412–20Lydg. Chron. Troy ii. 3873 Þei..cruelly begonne In al hast to spoillen þe castel. 1442Rolls of Parlt. V. 61/1 The Janueyes..semed..to make the said Sarazynes have good knowledge of the entrees into the said Ile, and there sodenly spoiled ii. Shippes. 1535Coverdale 1 Macc. i. 31 When he had spoyled the cite, he set fyre on it. 1597Beard Theatre God's Judgem. (1612) 269 With an armie of fiue hundred thousand men he wasted and spoyled all fields, cities, and villages that he passed by. 1639Fuller Holy War ii. iii. 46 Their rich tents, which seemed to be the exchequer of the East-country, spoiled. 1678Wanley Wond. Lit. World v. ii. §25. 470/1 In which Tumult the City was sack'd and spoiled. a1727Newton Chronol. Amended (1728) 20 Sesac spoils the Temple, and invades Syria. 1765Lyttleton Hist. Hen. II (1769) II. 339 The enemy..entered triumphant into Hereford, spoiled and fired the city, razed the walls to the ground [etc.]. 1858G. Macdonald Phantastes (1878) II. 124 They proceeded, by spoiling the country houses around them, to make a quite luxurious provision. 1859Tennyson Guinevere 136 To slay the folk, and spoil the land.
transf.1526Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 23 He spoyleth his barnes for the sede, and spendeth his goodes to sowe his grounde. 1577B. Googe Heresbach's Husb. iv. (1586) 183 b, When you have thus spoyled your Hiues, you shall carry all your Coames into some handsome place. 1601Donne Progr. Soule xxix, Foules they [i.e. fish] pursue not, nor do under⁓take To spoile the nests industrious birds do make.
†b. = harry v. 2 b. Obs.
c1400Mandeville (Roxb.) xiii. 57 Þe same tyme þat he went till hell and heried it, þe same tyme sall he spoile þe werld. a1450Myrc Par. Pr. 509 The eleuenþe [article of the creed] ys for to telle How he wente to spoyle helle. 1563Homilies ii. Resurrection, Thus is death swalowed vp, by Christes victory, thus is hell spoyled for euer. 1659Pearson Creed v. 507 Thus still the Fathers which speak of [Christ's] spoiling hell, of leading captivity captive.
4. a. To seize (goods) by force or violence; to carry off as spoil; to rob or steal; to take out of or away improperly. Obs. or arch.
13..E.E. Allit. P. B. 1285 Alle he spoyled spitously in a sped whyle, Þat Salomon so mony a sadde ȝer soȝt to make. c1380Wyclif Sel. Wks. I. 21 Þei han more bisynes to spuyle fro men þer worldely goodis. 1529–30Rec. St. Mary at Hill 353 To arrest Fold..for dyuers thinges spoillid out of our said house contrary to the Custom of the Cittie. 1560J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 400 b, What thinge soever was founde there,..it was spoyled. 1585T. Washington tr. Nicholay's Voy. i. xv. 15 b, [He] put his men there on land to ouerrun, rauish & spoile, all whatsoeuer they shuld find for their aduantage. 1611Bible Mark iii. 27 No man can..spoile his goods, except he will first bind the strong man. 1781Cowper Expost. 62 Jerusalem a prey, her glory soil'd, Her princes captive, and her treasures spoil'd. 1819Shelley ‘Men of England’ iii, That these stingless drones may spoil The forced produce of your toil?
transf.1549–62Sternhold & H. Ps. xlix. 5 Orels my foes which at my heeles are prest my life to spoyle? 1560Bible (Geneva) Prov. xxii. 23 For the Lord wil..spoile the soule of those that spoile them.
†b. To detract from. Obs.—1
1553Eden Treat. New Ind. (Arb.) 5 Wherfore if honest commendacions be a iust reward dew to noble enterprises, so much do they robbe and spoyle from ye dignitie therof, which in any poynt diminishe the same.
5. absol. To commit or practise spoil or pillage; to plunder, ravage.
c1400Siege Melayne 986 Þou bygynnes sone for to spoyle,..Thou settis more by a littill golde..Þan to fighte one goddes foo. 1535Coverdale Job xxiv. 5 The wilde asses in y⊇ deserte go by tymes (as their maner is) to spoyle. 1597Beard Theatre God's Judgem. (1612) 269 On this manner he went spoyling through Fraunce. 1610Holland Camden's Brit. 719 The Danes robbing and spoiling wherever they came. 1816Scott Antiq. xxviii, A soldier! then you have slain and burnt, and sacked and spoiled? 1867Tennyson Victim ii, But still the foeman spoil'd and burn'd.
II. (Const. of.)
6. a. To strip (a person, body, etc.) of arms, clothes, or the like. (Cf. 1.) Also refl. Now arch.
13..Seuyn Sages 500 (W.), He het his sone take, And spoili him of clothes nake. c1375Sc. Leg. Saints xlix. (Thecla) 204 Son ves tecla..spoylit of hir clathis. 1388Wyclif Lev. vi. 11 He schal be spuylid of the formere clothis. c1440Gesta Rom. iv. 9 (Harl. MS.), Iff ony man weere so hardy for to spoyle him of his armys, after þat he were y-buried, he shuld lese his life. 1497Bp. Alcock Mons Perfect. C iij, He wol spoyll hymself of all his garmentes to the entent that his adversary sholde haue noo holde of hym. 1514Barclay Cyt. & Uplondyshman (Percy Soc.) 6 They spoyle the lambes and foxys of the skynne. 1590Spenser F.Q. ii. ii. 33 Where they are well receiu'd, and made to spoile Themselues of soiled armes. c1611Chapman Iliad xvi. 462 If I be taken hence Spoiled of mine arms. 1720Strype Stow's Surv. (1754) I. iii. i. 529/2 The parson..caused his Monument to be broken, his Body to be spoiled of his leaden sheet. 1734tr. Rollin's Anc. Hist. (1827) I. 151 Cleonnis killed eight Spartans..and spoiled them of their arms. 1870Bryant Iliad xv. II. 102 See'st thou not how eagerly the Greeks Are spoiling Dolops of his arms?
†b. To strip (a tree) of bark. Obs. rare.
Cf. spoiled ppl. a. 2.
1578Lyte Dodoens vi. lxxv. 756 The timber waxeth red, assoone as it is spoyled of his rinde. 1653W. Blithe Eng. Improver Impr. 166 And if you spoil them [beech trees] of their Barque they die.
†7. refl. To divest or rid (oneself) of sins, etc.
a1395Hylton Scala Perf. ii. xxxi. (W. de W. 1494), Spoyle yourself of the olde man with all his dedes. c1440Mor. Wisdom 1140 in Macro Plays 73 Spoyll yow of yowur olde synnys & foly. 1582N.T. (Rhem.) Col. iii. 9 Spoiling your selues of the old man.
8. a. To deprive, despoil, pillage, or rob of something. † Also const. from (= of).
Very common in the 16th cent.; now arch.
a1400–50Alexander 4419 Ȝe lett men of þar libertes.., Thryngis þam in-to thraldom & of thaire þede spoiles. 1461Rolls of Parlt. V. 478/2 To have spoiled the Coroune of Englond therof, as they didde of the seid Toune. 1526Skelton Magnyf. 1876 Here Magnyfycence is beten downe and spoylyd from all his goodys and rayment. 1570–6Lambarde Peramb. Kent (1826) 145 He overruled the Nobility and outfaced the Clergie, spoiling both the one and the other of their livings. 1613Purchas Pilgrimage (1614) 60 The King..banished him into the vtmost bounds of Chanaan, hauing first spoiled him of all his goods. 1621Burton Anat. Mel. i. ii. iii. xv. (1651) 137 Others..spoile Parsons of their revenews. 1703Pope Thebais 104 My sons their old, unhappy sire despise, Spoil'd of his Kingdom, and depriv'd of eyes. 1838Arnold Hist. Rome I. 44 Many were they whom he spoiled of their goods. 1871Freeman Norm. Conq. (1876) IV. 706 He had spoiled many men wrongfully of their inheritance.
b. To deprive or despoil of some quality, distinction, etc.
c1430Lydg. Min. Poems (Percy Soc.) 195 Wyntir..Spoleth tre and herbe of al ther fresshe bewte. 1495Trevisa's Barth. De P.R. ii. xx. (W. de W.) 47 Though fendes ben obstynate in euyll yet they arn not spoylled of sharpe wytte. 1558Knox First Blast (Arb.) 11 God by the order of his creation hath spoiled woman of authoritie and dominion. 1586T. Rogers 39 Art. i. (1633) 7 Spoyling so both the Son, and holy Ghost of their deity, and the whole Trinity of their properties. 1630Prynne Anti-Armin. 117 It spoils the Lord of the very glory of his grace. 1691T. H[ale] Acc. New Invent. p. xiii, The ‘Constant Warwick’..was in its repairing spoiled of the excellency of its sailing. 1712Steele Spect. No. 263 ⁋4 Anger spoils the Person against whom it is moved of something laudable in him. 1756Burke Subl. & B. Wks. 1842 I. 40 When you do this, you spoil it of every thing sublime. 1833Mrs. Browning Prometh. Bound Poems 1850 I. 143 Having spoiled the gods Of honours, crown withal thy mortal men. 1858G. MacDonald Phantastes vi. 76 She was giving me, spoiled of my only availing defence, into the hands of my awful foe.
III. †9. To carve or cut up (a hen). Obs.
c1440Promp. Parv. 470 Sp[o]ylyn, or dysmembryn as menn don caponys or other fowlys,..artuo. 1486Bk. St. Albans F vij b, An Hen spoylede. 1508–13Bk. Keruynge a j b, Spoyle that henne, frusshe that chekyn. a1661B. Holyday Juvenal (1673) 78 'Tis no small difference, with what gesture men Of Art Vnlace a Hare and Spoil a Hen. 1739R. Bull tr. Dedekindus' Grobianus 228 To spoil the fattest Hen our Youth was bid, And this anon he literally did.
†10.
a. To destroy, bring to an end. Obs.
1579Lyly Euphues (Arb.) 44 The birde Trochilus lyueth by the mouth of the Crocodile and is not spoyled. 1581J. Studley tr. Seneca's Trag., Hercules Œtæus 111, I spoylde thy father Hercules; this hand, this hand aleare Hath murdred him. 1590Shakes. Com. Err. v. 37 For Gods sake take a house, This is some Priorie, in, or we are spoyl'd. 1640tr. Verdere's Rom. of Rom. ii. 123, I was ready to have spoiled you, if you had persisted in your malice. 1724Lond. Gaz. No. 6305/1 The Horse..ran down a Precipice and was spoil'd. 1726G. Shelvocke Voy. round World 241 Our launch being with the head towards the sea, I thought we were irretrievably spoil'd now.
refl.1616Pasquit & Kath. v. 47 [Stage direction. He drawes his Rapier.] Winif. Heele spoile himselfe: Let's run and call for helpe!
†b. To inflict serious bodily injury upon (an animal or person). Obs. (merged in 11).
1577B. Googe Heresbach's Husb. 119 It must be sene to, that they be euen matched, least the stronger [horse] spoyle the weaker. 1597Vere Comm. 28 The Cap-stain being too strong for my men, cast them against the ships side and spoiled many of them. 1653H. Cogan Diodorus Siculus 176 In closing with the Beast he should be sure to hold him so fast as he should not be able to spoile him with his teeth. 1665Voy. E. Ind. 381 If they strike an Horse, or Camel,..they will so break their bones, as that they will spoil, nay kill them at one blow.
†c. In pass. Of troops: To suffer severely; to be incapacitated for warfare. Obs.
1665Manley Grotius' Low C. Wars 155 While they were thus valiantly fighting, they were cut off by the Guns, at a great distance, and so spoiled with shot, that they were glad at last again to quit the place. 1690Luttrell Brief Rel. (1857) II. 101 If our forces had continued longer before it, they had been spoiled [by excessive rain].
d. slang. To damage seriously in boxing. Also transf.
1811Sporting Mag. XXXVIII. 8 There is not a pugilist on the list whom Belcher could not spoil by a sort of gifted science. 1847Sporting Life 16 Oct. 106/2 Hudson returned some heavy hitting; but Cannon would not be denied, although he met with a stopper that would have spoiled the upper works of the best chancery lawyer in the kingdom. 1866Chambers's Jrnl. 20 Jan. 33/1 Come on, you beggar!.. I'll spile your pretty face for you.
11. a. To damage, impair, or injure, esp. to such an extent as to render unfit or useless; to destroy (entirely or partially) the good, valuable, or effective properties or qualities of; to mar or vitiate completely or seriously.
1563Abp. Parker Articles A ij b, Whether any man..haue felled or spoiled any woode or timber in any Churche yarde. 1577B. Googe Heresbach's Husb. 44 Take heede of Swyne, that spoyle..the grounde ilfauoredly. 1602Marston Ant. & Mel. iii. Wks. 1856 I. 37 O, you spoyle my ruffe, unset my haire. 1692Wood Life (O.H.S.) III. 391 A great flood, all grass spoyl'd. 1717Lady M. W. Montagu Let. to C'tess Mar 10 Mar., These costly napkins..were entirely spoiled before dinner was over. 1767T. Hutchinson Hist. Mass. Bay II. 162 The harbours this year were much spoiled. 1798S. & Ht. Lee Canterb. T. II. 415 Supper had been waiting till quite spoiled. 1826Art of Brewing (ed. 2) 181 Of all sorts of old casks, beer vessels are the worst—as they always spoil cider. 1888Law Times LXXXV. 132/2 The tenant for life..is at liberty to fell such trees as are spoiling each other.
b. To ruin in respect of commerce or trade.
1618in Foster Eng. Factories India (1906) I. 14 The Dutch have spoyled the Moluccoes which they fought for, and spent more then they will yeild them, if quiett, in seaven yeares.
†c. To ravish or violate (a woman). Obs.
1678Cotton Scarron. iv. Wks. (1715) 67, I am half afraid lest he Should chance to spoil her Majesty. 1694Motteux Rabelais iv. xlvii, He has spoiled me. I am undone.
d. In pass. Of persons: To have the clothes damaged with mud. rare—1.
1697C'tess D'Aunoy's Trav. (1706) 132 The Coaches [go] up to the middle, so that it [sc. mud] dashes all upon you, and you are spoyled unless you either pull up the Glasses, or draw the Curtains.
e. To render (a ballot paper) invalid, as by improper marking, deliberate defacement, etc.; to invalidate (a vote) in this manner.
1872Act 35 & 36 Vict. §33 If the voter inadvertently spoils a ballot paper, he can return it to the officer, who will, if satisfied of such inadvertence, give him another paper. 1886Truth About Irish Election 1885 (Irish Loyal & Patriotic Union) 24 He clearly informed him that he would spoil his vote. 1953Ann. Reg. 1952 235 The pro-Germans had been urged to abstain or to spoil their ballot papers. 1978G. Hermet et al. Elections without Choice i. 3 The difference between free and controlled elections is indicated by the opportunity a voter has..to have his franchise recognised through registration..to decide how to vote, even to spoil his ballot, without external pressure.
12. With immaterial object: To affect injuriously or detrimentally, esp. to an irretrievable extent; to destroy or prevent the full exercise, development, or enjoyment of:
a. Of things or actions.
1578Lyte Dodoens 420 Al the Crowfootes are dangerous and hurtful,..especially the..Apium risus, the whiche taken inwardly spoyleth the senses and understanding. a1586Sidney Astr. & Stella Sonn. xviii, My wit doth striue those passions to defende, Which, for reward, spoile it with vaine annoyes. 1652–62Heylin Cosmogr. iii. (1673) 213/1 He was likely to have made himself a good bargain by it; if the sudden coming of the King of Barma, had not spoiled his markets. 1662Stillingfl. Orig. Sacræ iii. iii. §2 The least thought of business would quite spoile his happiness. 1687A. Lovell tr. Thevenot's Trav. iii. 96 It is surrounded with ugly shops made of Wood,..which spoils the prospect of it. 1709Tatler No. 136 ⁋13 The Sale of the said Clothes is spoiled by your Worship's said Prohibition. 1752J. Gill Trinity vii. 144 That beautiful antithesis between Moses and Christ is spoiled. 1812New Bot. Gard. I. 59 It will spoil their flowering. 1866J. Martineau Ess. II. 208 A mistake in arithmetic spoils our accounts. 1885‘Mrs. Alexander’ Valerie's Fate ii, The notion worried and distracted her and spoiled the rest of her evening.
b. Of persons.
1626Haughton's Wom. will have her Will iv. ii. G iij b, The Rogue is waking yet to spoyle [1616 marre] your sport. 1753J. Collier Art Torment., Gen. Rules (1811) 197 But if she should object to these things, you may accuse her of affectation, and a design of spoiling company. 1775Sheridan Rivals v. iii, I hope..you won't be so cantanckerous as to spoil the party by sitting out. 1801tr. Gabrielli's Myst. Husb. III. 197, ‘I caught him just as he was..going out a pleasuring for the day.’ ‘Then facks, you spoiled his sport.’ 1859Tennyson Guinevere 450 Thou hast spoilt the purpose of my life. 1885‘Mrs. Alexander’ At Bay ix, I never heard of such madness. Why, you will spoil your life.
c. In the phrase to spoil all or spoil everything.
1653Walton Angler xxi, Be sure that your riches be justly got, or you spoil all. 1686tr. Chardin's Trav. Persia 180 The Queen was a very beautiful Person,..but her demeanor spoil'd all. 1756A. Murphy Apprentice ii. ii, Nay, but prithee now—I tell you you'll spoil all—what made you stay so long? 1871Freeman Norm. Conq. (1876) IV. 144 As usual, local and internal dissensions spoiled everything.
13. a. To injure in respect of character, esp. by over-indulgence or undue lenience. Also, in weakened sense, to treat with excessive consideration or kindness.
1694Congreve Double-Dealer iii. iii, I swear, my dear, you'll spoil that child. 1749Fielding Tom Jones xiv. viii, One daughter, whom in vulgar language, he and his wife had spoiled; that is, had educated with the utmost tenderness and fondness. 1796E. Inchbald Nature & Art I. ix. 47 Considering the labour that was taken to spoil him, he was rather a commendable youth. 1826Disraeli Viv. Grey i. i, It was discovered that he had been spoiled, and it was determined that he should be sent to school. 1838Lytton Alice 14 My dear Evelyn, you are born to spoil every one. 1861in Mrs. G. Porter Ann. Publishing Ho. (1898) III. 60 With every respect and admiration for Tennyson, I think he is childish about criticisms. His adulators spoil him. 1888J. Payn Myst. Mirbridge v, She does not spoil her eldest born.
absol.1895Daily News 19 Apr. 4/7 It must be owned that even when she does spoil she spoils very nicely.
b. Cant and slang. (See quots.)
1812J. H. Vaux Flash Dict. s.v., To prevent another person from succeeding in his object,..subjects you to the charge of having spoiled him. 1884R. C. Leslie Sea Paint. Log (1886) 76 Well, it's a pity spoiling a nice gent like 'im. [Note.] The expression ‘spoil a gent’ is used by such men in the sense of disgusting him with the sea and so losing a good customer.
14. a. intr. To lose the valuable properties or qualities; to become unfit for use; to deteriorate; to go bad, decay. Also transf.
1692Laws Nevis xv. (1740) 14 The Lesses were not able..to grind off what Canes lay spoiling in the Ground. 1726Leoni Alberti's Archit. II. 109/1 Rain water..soon spoyls if it is kept in any vessel made of wood. 1774Goldsm. Nat. Hist. (1776) V. 4 Lest the feathers should spoil by their violent attrition against the air. 1796Southey Lett. fr. Spain (1799) 457 Cargoes that are liable to spoil, such as all kinds of grain. 1828–32Webster s.v., Fruit will soon spoil in warm weather. 1857Hughes Tom Brown ii. ii, ‘That sort of boy's no use here,’ said East, ‘he'll only spoil’.
b. to be spoiling for (a fight, etc.), to long for, to desire ardently or earnestly. Also const. inf. orig. U.S.
1865Sk. fr. Cambr. 67 We are in the condition which the Yankees call ‘spoiling for a fight’. 1890Stevenson Lett. (1899) II. 191 The native population..chronically spoiling for a fight. 1893Nation (N.Y.) 16 Nov. 368/2 Dr. James Martineau, who, in spite of his eighty-nine years, seemed still to be ‘spoiling for an argument’. a1960E. M. Forster Maurice (1971) vii. 42 Durham..would be found at all hours curled up in his room and spoiling to argue.
15. techn. (See quots. and spoil n. 10.)
1847Dwyer Hydraulic Engineer. 129 The most rapid method of executing the earthwork of Railways, when the excavation exceeds the embankment, is to throw part of the excavation from the side slope to spoil. 1862Rep. E. Ind. Rly. Co. 30 As the cuttings are comparatively few, it is intended to throw the stuff from them to spoil on either side of the line.
▪ III. † spoil, v.2 Obs.—1
In 5 spoylle.
[a. MDu. spoelen (G. spülen).]
trans. To rinse or wash out.
c1481Caxton Dialogues 26 Respaulme la hanap, Spoylle the cuppe.
▪ IV. † spoil, v.3 Naut. Obs.—1
[See spoiling vbl. n.2]
trans. To measure or adjust.
1794Rigging & Seamanship 22 The other half is then canted on and spoiled for faying. |