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SPOLIATION

 - 4 dictionary results

spo⋅li⋅a⋅tion

  [spoh-lee-ey-shuhn]
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–noun
1. the act or an instance of plundering or despoiling.
2. authorized plundering of neutrals at sea in time of war.
3. Law. the destruction or material alteration of a bill of exchange, will, or the like.
4. the act of spoiling or damaging something.
Origin:
1350–1400; ME < L spoliātiōn- (s. of spoliātiō), equiv. to spoliāt(us) (ptp. of spoliāre to spoil; see -ate 1 ) + -iōn- -ion
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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spo·li·a·tion   (spō'lē-ā'shən)   
n.  

  1. The act of despoiling or plundering.

  2. Seizure of neutral vessels at sea by a belligerent power in time of war.

  3. Law Intentional alteration or destruction of a document.


[Middle English spoliacioun, from Anglo-Norman, from Latin spoliātiō, spoliātiōn-, from spoliātus, past participle of spoliāre, to despoil; see spoil.]
spo'li·a'tor n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

spoliation 
c.1400, from L. spoliationem (nom. spoliatio) "a robbing, plundering, pillaging," noun of action from spoliare "to plunder, rob" (see spoil).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: spo·li·a·tion
Pronunciation: "spO-lE-'A-sh&n
Function: noun
1 : the destruction, alteration, or mutilation of evidence esp. by a party for whom the evidence is damaging
2 : alteration or mutilation of an instrument (as a will) by one who is not a party to the instrument
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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