SOIL Copy link • SOIL 1. Ground, earth, terra, (terrae) solum (surface of the ground): ager; soli natura, ingenium; solum (in respect of its natural quality and its produce). A rich soil, solum pingue. A thin soil, solum macrum et exile. A loose or close, moist or dry soil, solum solutum vel spissum, humidum vel siccum. Dung, stercus (of men and animals): excrementum, usually plur., excrementa, -orum, neuter (of men and animals; post-Augustan, but classical). A spot, stain, Vid. 2. v. aliquid aliqua re inquinare (to cover with dirt; the strongest term): contaminare (to soil more slightly, especially by use or frequent handling): turpare (to take off the freshness of a thing; ☞ not deturpare): maculare (with spots): spurcare: conspurcare (so as to make foul or loathsome). To soil one’s fingers (figuratively), se sceleribus contaminare (Cic.); flagitiis se dedecorare (Sall.); contaminare, inquinare, polluere (Cic.).