spolia opima

English

Etymology

From Latin spolia opīma.

Noun

spolia opima pl (plural only)

1. (historical) The spoils taken by a Roman general from an opponent commander, originally after single combat.
   • 1751, [Tobias] Smollett, The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle […], volume (please specify |volume=I to IV), London: Harrison and Co., […], →OCLC:

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

   • 1832, Tales of the Alhambra, Washington Irving:

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

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

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

Translations

Translations

• Finnish: spolia opima, sotasaalis (fi)
• French: dépouilles opimes (fr) f pl
• Polish: spolia opima n pl

Latin

Noun

spolia opīma n pl (genitive spoliōrum opīmōrum); second declension

1. The spoils taken by a Roman general from an opponent commander after single combat, representing the highest military honor known to the Romans.

Declension

Second-declension noun (neuter) with a second-declension adjective, plural only.

	plural
nominative	spolia opīma
genitive	spoliōrum opīmōrum
dative	spoliīs opīmīs
accusative	spolia opīma
ablative	spoliīs opīmīs
vocative	spolia opīma