impoverish

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Etymology

From Middle English impoverishen, empoverishen, from Old French empoverir, from em- + povre, from (English poor).

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ɪmˈpɒv(ə)ɹɪʃ/

Verb

impoverish (impoverishes, present participle impoverishing; simple past and past participle impoverished)

1. (transitive) To make poor.
2. (transitive) To weaken in quality; to deprive of some strength or richness.

   That exuberant crop quickly impoverishes any fertile soil.

3. (intransitive) To become poor.

Synonyms

• (to make poor) ruin; poor (rare)
• (to weaken or deprive) deplete

Antonyms

• enrich

Translations

• French: appauvrir
• German: arm
• Italian: immiserire
• Portuguese: empobrecer
• Russian: обеднять
• Spanish: empobrecer, depauperar

Translations

• French: appauvrir
• German: verarmen
• Italian: immiserirsi
• Portuguese: empobrecer
• Russian: беднеть

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