spoilation
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: 1. The act of plundering, looting, or despoiling; the act of stripping and taking property or valuables by force. This term specifically refers to the action of seizing goods through violence, theft, or during a time of conflict, often leaving the victim deprived.
Usage
The word "spoilation" is a formal and somewhat legalistic term. It is used to describe acts of violent theft, plunder, or the intentional destruction or seizure of property, especially in contexts like war, riots, or piracy. - The spoilation of the ancient temple by invaders left it empty of its treasures. - Historical accounts detail the spoilation of villages during the army's march.
Advanced Usage
- Legal Context: In legal contexts, particularly older or historical law, "spoilation" can refer to the intentional destruction, alteration, or concealment of evidence relevant to a legal proceeding. This is more commonly referred to today as spoliation (a common variant spelling).
- The judge warned the company about the legal consequences of document spoilation.
Variants and Related Words
- Spoliation (n): The more common modern spelling, especially in legal contexts, with the same core meaning of plunder or the destruction of evidence.
- Despoil (v): To strip of possessions, to plunder.
- Despoliation (n): The act of despoiling; synonymous with spoilation/spoliation.
- Plunder (n/v): To steal goods, typically using force and in a time of war or civil disorder.
- Pillage (n/v): The act of looting or plundering, especially during war.
Synonyms
- Plunder
- Pillage
- Looting
- Despoliation
- Depredation
- Rapine (archaic)
Antonyms
- Protection
- Preservation
- Restoration
- Safeguarding
Related Phrases & Idioms
- To commit spoilation: To engage in the act of plundering.
- The rebels were accused of committing spoilation against civilian farms.
- Spoilation of evidence: A legal phrase (using the variant "spoliation") for the intentional destruction of evidence.
- The case was dismissed due to the spoliation of key documents.
Noun
- the act of stripping and taking by force