Impoverish

Origin

Borrowing from fro empoverir (modern French appauvrir), from em- + povre, from Latin pauper ("poor") (English poor).

Full definition of impoverish

Verb

1. (transitive) Make poor.
2. (transitive) Weaken in quality; deprive of some strength or richness.''That exuberant crop quickly impoverishes any fertile soil
3. (intransitive) Become poor.

Derived terms

• impoverisher
• impoverishment

Synonyms

• ruin

Antonyms

• enrich