spoil

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   the act of spoiling something by causing damage to it

   The spoiling of my dress was deliberate.

2. 2
   noun

   (usually plural) valuables taken by violence (especially in war)

   to the victor belong the spoils of the enemy

3. 3
   verb

   become unfit for consumption or use

   the meat must be eaten before it spoils

4. 4
   verb

   To strip or deprive (someone) of possessions; to rob, despoil.

   All that herde hym wer amased and sayde: ys nott this he that spoylled them whych called on this name in Jerusalem?

5. 5
   verb

   To plunder, pillage (a city, country etc.).

   Outlaws, which, lurking in woods, used to break forth to rob and spoil.

6. 6
   verb

   To carry off (goods) by force; to steal.

   No man can enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man.

7. 7
   verb

   To ruin; to damage in such a way as to make undesirable or unusable.

   All this sun spoils me for vacations in the far North.

8. 8
   verb

   To go bad; to become sour or rancid; to decay.

   Make sure you put the milk back in the fridge; otherwise it will spoil.

Etymology

From Middle English spoilen, spuylen, borrowed from Old French espoillier, espollier, espuler, from Latin spoliō, spoliāre (“pillage, ruin, spoil”).