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 verb1 aarchaic : despoil, strip b: pillage, rob2archaic : to seize by force3 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 verb1: to practice plunder and robbery2: 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