spolia opima

noun

The spoils taken by a Roman general from an opponent commander, originally after single combat.

OriginLatin spolia opīma →
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Meanings

nounspolia opima pl (plural only)
  1. historicalpluralplural onlyThe spoils taken by a Roman general from an opponent commander, originally after single combat.

    He demanded his body therefore, and the spolia opima taken with him.

    1832, Tales of the Alhambra, Washington Irving
    2 more examples

    The victor having won the Spolia Opima, granted him his life, on condition, that he would on his knees supplicate his pardon […].

    1751, [Tobias] Smollett, The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle […], volume (please specify |volume=I to IV), London: Harrison and Co., […], →OCLC

    Within Augustus' new forum, which was dedicated in 2, the spolia opima also played a central role.

    2014, James H. Richardson, Federico Santangelo, The Roman Historical Tradition, page 315

Origin

  1. Latinspolia opīma
  2. Englishspolia opima

From Latin spolia opīma.

More words from Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Finnish spolia opima, sotasaalis
  • spolia opimaTranslations
  • sotasaalisTranslations
French dépouilles opimes
  • dépouilles opimesTranslations
Polish spolia opima
  • spolia opimaTranslations
Cite this entry
APA

spolia opima. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/spolia%20opima

MLA

“spolia opima.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/spolia%20opima. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “spolia opima,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/spolia%20opima.

Source: spolia opima on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.