Spiritual pride spoils many graces.
Jer. Taylor.
4. To render useless by injury; to injure fatally; to ruin; to destroy;
as, to spoil paper; to have the crops spoiled by insects; to spoil the
eyes by reading.
Spoil (?), v. i. 1. To practice plunder or robbery.
Outlaws, which, lurking in woods, used to break forth to rob and
spoil.
Spenser.
2. To lose the valuable qualities; to be corrupted; to decay; as, fruit
will soon spoil in warm weather.
Spoil, n. [Cf. OF. espoille, L. spolium.] 1. That which is taken from
another by violence; especially, the plunder taken from an enemy;
pillage; booty.
Gentle gales, Fanning their odoriferous wings, dispense Native
perfumes, and whisper whence they stole Those balmy spoils.
Milton.
2. Public offices and their emoluments regarded as the peculiar
property of a successful party or faction, to be bestowed for its own
advantage; -- commonly in the plural; as to the victor belong the
spoils.
From a principle of gratitude I adhered to the coalition; my vote
was counted in the day of battle, but I was overlooked in the
division of the spoil.
Gibbon.