The word "spoils" is spelled with an "s" and not a "z" due to its pronunciation. The IPA phonetic transcription of this word is /spɔɪlz/. The sound /s/ represents the unvoiced consonant sound, while the sound /z/ represents the voiced consonant sound. As the second syllable in "spoils" ends with an unvoiced consonant sound, the spelling of the entire word follows suit. Therefore, the correct spelling of the word is "spoils" and not "spoils".
Spoils, in its noun form, refers to the rewards, benefits, or prizes that are obtained through success or victorious conquests, typically in a conflict or competition. These rewards or spoils can be material possessions, land, wealth, or any other valuable resources that are seized or gained from a defeated opponent or as a result of achieving a particular goal.
The term "spoils" can also refer to the act of distributing or dividing such acquired rewards among the conquerors or participants involved. Historically, spoils have been a common aspect of warfare, where the victorious side takes possession of the spoils, often distributing them among their soldiers or leaders. This act is known as "spoils of war."
Beyond warfare, the concept of spoils can be applied to various arenas of life, such as sports competitions, political campaigns, or even everyday situations where there is a winner and loser. In these contexts, spoils represent the tangible or intangible rewards or advantages obtained by the victor or winning party.
The term can also be used in a figurative sense, describing the negative consequences or detrimental effects that result from corruption, deception, or unethical behavior. In this context, spoils can refer to ill-gotten gains or benefits obtained through unethical means, often resulting in harm or loss to others.
Overall, the term "spoils" encompasses the rewards, benefits, or prizes obtained through success or conquest, with its meaning ranging from material possessions acquired during warfare to more metaphorical descriptions of ill-gotten gains and their consequences.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word spoils derives from the Old French term espoille, which originated from the Latin word spolium. In Latin, spolium referred to the act of stripping off the robe or armor of a defeated enemy as a sign of victory. Over time, spolium came to encompass the whole process of seizing the possessions, wealth, or resources of a defeated enemy or a conquered territory. From Old French, espoille passed into Middle English as spoille, before eventually evolving into the modern English word spoils.