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Definition of plunder - 3 dictionary results

plun⋅der

  [pluhn-der]
Use plunder in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
1. to rob of goods or valuables by open force, as in war, hostile raids, brigandage, etc.: to plunder a town.
2. to rob, despoil, or fleece: to plunder the public treasury.
3. to take wrongfully, as by pillage, robbery, or fraud: to plunder a piece of property.
–verb (used without object)
4. to take plunder; pillage.
–noun
5. plundering, pillage, or spoliation.
6. that which is taken in plundering; loot.
7. anything taken by robbery, theft, or fraud.
Origin:
1620–30; < D plunderen

Related forms:
plun⋅der⋅a⋅ble, adjective
plun⋅der⋅er, noun
plun⋅der⋅ing⋅ly, adverb
plun⋅der⋅ous, adjective

Synonyms:
1. rape, ravage, sack, devastate. 5. rapine, robbery. 6. booty, spoils.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To plunder
plun·der   (plŭn'dər)   
v.   plun·dered, plun·der·ing, plun·ders

v.   tr.

  1. To rob of goods by force, especially in time of war; pillage: plunder a village.

  2. To seize wrongfully or by force; steal: plundered the supplies.

v.   intr.
To take booty; rob.
n.  

  1. The act or practice of plundering.

  2. Property stolen by fraud or force; booty.


[German plündern, from Middle High German plundern, from Middle Low German plunder, household goods.]
plun'der·a·ble adj., plun'der·er n., plun'der·ous adj.
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

plunder  (v.)
1632, from M.H.G. plunderen "to plunder," originally "to take away household furniture," from plunder "household goods, clothes" (cf. M.H.G. plunder "lumber, baggage," 14c.; M.Du. plunder "household goods;" Fris., Du. plunje "clothes"). A word acquired by English via the Thirty Years War and applied in native use after the outbreak of the Civil War in 1642. The noun meaning "goods taken by force" is from 1647.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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