[f. L. spoliāt-, ppl. stem of spoliāre to spoil, f. spolium SPOIL sb. 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, is April. 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 Spoliating 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.
