Spoil
/spɔɪl/noun
To damage or harm something, often rendering it unusable or less valuable.
Did you know?In the past, 'spoil' was commonly associated with the spoils of war, highlighting a historical link between destruction and gain.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*spol-
“to tear off or plunder”
Latin
Latin
spoliare
“to strip off or rob”
Old French
Old French
espoillier
“to take by force, to plunder”
Middle English
Middle English
spoil(en)
“to plunder, to take away goods”
Modern English
English
spoil
“to damage, to ruin or make worthless”