▪ I. † ˈspoliate, pa. pple. Obs.—1
[ad. L. spoliātus, pa. pple. of spoliāre: see next.]
Destitute, devoid.
| c 1470 Henryson Mor. Fab., Preach. Swallow xl, This carle and bond of gentrice spoliate. |
▪ II. spoliate, v.
(ˈspəʊlɪeɪt)
[f. L. spoliāt-, ppl. stem of spoliāre to spoil, f. spolium spoil n. Cf. F. spolier, Prov. and Pg. espoliar, It. spogliare.]
trans. To spoil or despoil; to rob or deprive of something.
| 1722–7 Boyer Dict. Royal i, Spolier, to spoliate, spoil. |
| 1839 John Bull 15 Apr., After having violated and spoliated every other corporation in the country. 1853 Fraser's Mag. XLVIII. 710 Spoliating the land of our trees. 1876 Contemp. Rev. Jan. 304 Bonaparte was spoliating the Pope. |
| absol. 1835 Tait's Mag. II. 520 The exactions of an alien church, which insults while it spoliates. |
Hence ˈspoliating ppl. a.
| 1840 Penny Cycl. XVIII. 321/1 The spoliating parties called a diet to sanction this iniquitous transaction. 1895 Daily News 6 Nov. 8/3 The scheme of spoliation which was partially successful under a spoliating Government. |