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v. soiled, soil·ing, soils v.tr. 1. To make dirty, particularly on the surface. 2. To disgrace; tarnish: a reputation soiled by scandal. 3. To corrupt; defile. 4. To dirty with excrement. v.intr. To become dirty, stained, or tarnished. n. 1. a. The state of being soiled. b. A stain. 2. Filth, sewage, or refuse. 3. Manure, especially human excrement, used as fertilizer. [Middle English soilen, from Old French souiller, from Vulgar Latin *suculāre (from Late Latin suculus, diminutive of Latin sūs, pig; see sū- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots) or from souil, wallow of a wild boar (from Latin solium, seat, bathtub; see SOIL1).] |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
tr.v. soiled, soil·ing, soils To feed (livestock) with soilage. [Origin unknown.] |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
