bespoil

transitive verb

be·​spoil bi-ˈspȯi(-ə)l 

bē-

bespoiled bi-ˈspȯi(-ə)ld 

-ˈspȯi(-ə)lt,

bē-

; bespoiling; bespoils

1

: to strip or deprive (someone) of something : despoil

—+ of

… he had looked upon him in the light of a mere robber, and, as such, would have bespoiled him of his ill-gotten gain, but for the judicious interference of his comrade, brother, and partner.

—Charles Dickens, Our Mutual Friend, 1865

2

: to mar or ruin (something) : spoil

… but to the people of the Gulf Coast, it's just another reason to mistrust the company that bespoiled their shores.

—Mobile Register (Alabama), 22 July 2010

Word History

First Known Use

1773, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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