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Webster 1913 Edition


Spoliation

Spoˊli-a′tion

(spō′lĭ-ā′shŭn)
,
Noun.
[L.
spoliatio
: cf. F.
spoliation
. See
Spoil
,
Verb.
T.
]
1.
The act of plundering; robbery; deprivation; despoliation.
Legal
spoliation
, which will impoverish one part of the community in order to corrupt the remainder.
Sir G. C. Lewis.
2.
Robbery or plunder in war; especially, the authorized act or practice of plundering neutrals at sea.
3.
(Eccl. Law)
(a)
The act of an incumbent in taking the fruits of his benefice without right, but under a pretended title.
Blackstone.
(b)
A process for possession of a church in a spiritual court.
4.
(Law)
Injury done to a document.

Webster 1828 Edition


Spoliation

SPOLIATION

,
Noun.
1.
The act of plundering, particularly of plundering an enemy in time of war.
2.
The act or practice of plundering neutrals at sea under authority.
3.
In ecclesiastical affairs, the act of an incumbent in taking the fruits of his benefice without right, but under a pretended title.

Definition 2024


spoliation

spoliation

English

Noun

spoliation (plural spoliations)

  1. The act of plundering or spoiling; robbery; deprivation; despoliation.
    • 1852, Charles Dickens, Bleak House, ch. 1:
      In trickery, evasion, procrastination, spoliation, botheration, under false pretences of all sorts, there are influences that can never come to good.
  2. Robbery or plunder in times of war; especially, the authorized act or practice of plundering neutrals at sea.
  3. (law) The intentional destruction of or tampering with (a document) in such way as to impair evidentiary effect.

Derived terms

  • writ of spoliation

Related terms

Translations

References

  • spoliation in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
  • spoliation in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913

Anagrams


French

Noun

spoliation f (plural spoliations)

  1. spoliation