despoil

1175–1225; Middle English despoilen<Old French despoillier<Latin dēspoliāre to strip, rob, plunder, equivalent to dē-de- + spoliāre to plunder; see spoil

OTHER WORDS FROM despoil

de·spoil·er, nounde·spoil·ment, nounun·de·spoiled, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use despoil in a sentence

Eco-sceptic Brits weary of seeing their green and pleasant land despoiled with wind turbines, nodded their heads in agreement.
The Grand Old Duke of Edinburgh: Why Everybody Loves Phil|Tom Sykes|November 23, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Afghans have also been their own worst enemies, standing by as their friends and relatives despoiled the public realm.
Bin Laden's Death Heightens Tensions in Kabul|Ann Marlowe|May 3, 2011|DAILY BEAST
My poor son would have been despoiled and wronged like the king, my husband, and I should have been the cause of it.
Catherine de' Medici|Honore de Balzac
But the room was empty save for the despoiled carcass, and there was no sign of the aliens who had been sent out to scout.
Star Born|Andre Norton

The riot ended only when the captain had been despoiled of the peppermints he had provided for such contingencies.
Cursed|George Allan England
But while he despoiled the Saxon prelates, he would suffer no royal spoliation of the Norman bishops.
Beacon Lights of History, Volume V|John Lord
Multitudes were despoiled of their goods, hundreds lost their lives at the hands of their cruel guests.
History of the Rise of the Huguenots|Henry Baird

British Dictionary definitions for despoil

despoil

/ (dɪˈspɔɪl) /

verb

(tr) to strip or deprive by force; plunder; rob; loot

Derived forms of despoil

despoiler, noundespoilment, noun

Word Origin for despoil

C13: from Old French despoillier, from Latin dēspoliāre, from de- + spoliāre to rob (esp of clothing); see spoil

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

despoil

OTHER WORDS FOR despoil

Origin of despoil

OTHER WORDS FROM despoil

Words related to despoil

How to use despoil in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for despoil

Derived forms of despoil

Word Origin for despoil