Despoiled: meaning, definitions and examples

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despoiled

 

[ dɪ'spɔɪld ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

act of plundering

Despoiled refers to the act of stripping something of its possessions or valuables. This term is often associated with the looting or plundering of property, particularly in a violent or illegal manner. It can also imply a sense of loss or being deprived of something valuable, whether material or abstract. The term is often used in historical contexts, such as describing armies that despoiled enemy lands during conflicts.

Synonyms

looted, pillaged, plundered, ravaged, sacked

Examples of usage

  • The invaders despoiled the village, taking away livestock and goods.
  • The museum artifacts were despoiled in the heist, leaving precious pieces missing.
  • Nature was despoiled by the industrial waste dumped in the river.

Translations

Translations of the word "despoiled" in other languages:

🇵🇹 despojado

🇮🇳 लूट लिया गया

🇩🇪 beraubt

🇮🇩 dirampok

🇺🇦 позбавлений

🇵🇱 zabrany

🇯🇵 奪われた

🇫🇷 dépossédé

🇪🇸 despojado

🇹🇷 soygun yapılmış

🇰🇷 강탈당한

🇸🇦 مُسْتَخْرَج

🇨🇿 zbavený

🇸🇰 zbavený

🇨🇳 被掠夺的

🇸🇮 opravljen

🇮🇸 rændur

🇰🇿 тонауға ұшыраған

🇬🇪 დატვირთული

🇦🇿 müsadir edilmiş

🇲🇽 despojado

Word origin

The word 'despoiled' is derived from the Latin term 'despoliare', which means to strip or rob. This Latin term is composed of 'de-', meaning 'down from' or 'away from', and 'spolia', meaning 'goods' or 'spoils'. The verb evolved through Old French 'despoillier' before entering the English language in the late Middle Ages. Historically, 'despoil' has been used to describe the acts of soldiers or conquerors who would take wealth from the lands they invaded. The term has retained its connotations of violence and theft throughout its usage, reflecting the gravity of loss associated with being despoiled, whether in a literal or metaphorical sense.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #25,099, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.