Main Entry: ²spoil

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): spoiled \ˈspȯi(-ə)ld, ˈspȯi(-ə)lt\ also spoilt \ˈspȯi(-ə)lt\; spoil·ing

Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French espuiller, espoiller, from Latin spoliare to strip of natural covering, despoil, from spolium skin, hide — more at spill

Date: 14th century

transitive verb 1 a archaic : despoil, strip b : pillage, rob
2 archaic : to seize by force
3 a : to damage seriously : ruin b : to impair the quality or effect of <a quarrel spoiled the celebration>
4 a : to impair the disposition or character of by overindulgence or excessive praise b : to pamper excessively : coddleintransitive verb 1 : to practice plunder and robbery
2 : to lose valuable or useful qualities usually as a result of decay <the fruit spoiled>
3 : to have an eager desire <spoiling for a fight>

synonyms see decay, indulge

— spoil·able \ˈspȯi-lə-bəl\ adjective