■ verb ( past and past participle ~t ( chiefly Brit. ) or ~ed )
1》 diminish or destroy the value or quality of.
↘(of food) become unfit for eating.
↘mark (a ballot paper) incorrectly so as to invalidate one's vote.
2》 harm the character of (a child) by being too indulgent.
↘treat with great or excessive kindness or generosity.
3》 ( be ~ing for ) be extremely or aggressively eager for.
4》 archaic rob by force or violence.
■ noun
1》 ( ~s ) stolen goods.
2》 waste material brought up during the course of an excavation or a dredging or mining operation.
Phrases
be ~t for choice Brit. have so many options that it is difficult to make a choice.
Derivatives
~age noun
Origin
ME: shortening of OFr. e~le (n.), e~lier (v.), from L. spoliare , from spolium 'plunder, skin stripped from an animal', or a shortening of de~ .