The vandals despoiled the castle of much of its furnishings.
•The land was despoiled of its fertility by overplanting.
Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.
despoil — [dē spoil′, dispoil′] vt. [ME despoilen < OFr despoiller < L despoliare < de , intens. + spoliare, to strip, rob: see SPOIL] to deprive of something of value by or as by force; rob; plunder SYN. RAVAGE despoiler n. despoilment n … English World dictionary
ravage — ravage, devastate, waste, sack, pillage, despoil, spoliate are comparable when they mean to lay waste or bare by acts of violence (as plundering or destroying). Ravage implies violent, severe, and often cumulative destruction accomplished… … New Dictionary of Synonyms
spoil — I. noun Etymology: Middle English spoile, from Anglo French espuille, from espuiller Date: 14th century 1. a. plunder taken from an enemy in war or from a victim in robbery ; loot b. public offices made the property of a successful party usually… … New Collegiate Dictionary
deprive — de·prive vt de·prived, de·priv·ing: to take away or withhold something from no person shall...be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law U.S. Constitution amend. V dep·ri·va·tion /ˌde prə vā shən, ˌdē ˌprī / n Merriam… … Law dictionary
Germany — /jerr meuh nee/, n. a republic in central Europe: after World War II divided into four zones, British, French, U.S., and Soviet, and in 1949 into East Germany and West Germany; East and West Germany were reunited in 1990. 84,068,216; 137,852 sq.… … Universalium
spoil — spoilable, adj. spoilless, adj. /spoyl/, v., spoiled or spoilt, spoiling, n. v.t. 1. to damage severely or harm (something), esp. with reference to its excellence, value, usefulness, etc.: The water stain spoiled the painting. Drought spoiled the … Universalium
steal — vt stole, sto·len, steal·ing [Old English stelan]: to take or appropriate without right or consent and with intent to keep or make use of see also robbery, theft Merriam Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam Webster. 1996 … Law dictionary
strip — strip1 /strip/, v., stripped or stript, stripping, n. v.t. 1. to deprive of covering: to strip a fruit of its rind. 2. to deprive of clothing; make bare or naked. 3. to take away or remove: to strip sheets from the bed. 4. to deprive or divest:… … Universalium
take — vb took, tak·en, tak·ing vt 1 a: to obtain control, custody, or possession of often by assertive or intentional means b: to seize or interfere with the use of (property) by governmental authority; specif: to acquire title to for public use by… … Law dictionary
ruin — I (New American Roget s College Thesaurus) n. destruction, downfall, perdition; wreck, remains, relic. See failure, remainder. v. t. wreck, raze, demolish; impoverish, seduce, etc. See impurity, poverty. II (Roget s IV) n. 1. [The act of… … English dictionary for students
Vilfredo Pareto — Lausanne School Born 15 July 1848(1848 07 15) Died 19 August 1923(1923 08 … Wikipedia
