impoverish
UK: ɪmˈpɒvərɪʃ | US: ɪmˈpɑːvərɪʃ
vt. to make someone or something poor or weaker in quality
vt. to exhaust the strength, richness, or fertility of something
impoverish = im<into, negative> + pover<poor> + ish<verb suffix>
- im- (prefix): From Latin in- ("into" or negative), here implying a negative transformation.
- pover (root): From Old French povre (modern pauvre), meaning "poor," derived from Latin pauper ("poor").
- -ish (suffix): A verb-forming suffix indicating causation (e.g., "to make poor").
Etymology Origin:
The word traces back to Late Latin impauperare ("to make poor"), blending in- (intensifier/negation) and pauper ("poor"). It entered Middle English via Old French empoverir, later reshaped with the -ish suffix to align with English verb patterns (e.g., punish, finish). The morphemes logically combine to mean "to render poor," reflecting both economic and metaphorical depletion.
The war impoverished the nation, leaving many without basic resources.
Overfarming has impoverished the soil, reducing crop yields.
His reckless spending gradually impoverished his family.
The policy risks impoverishing small businesses.
Disease can impoverish a community’s health and economy.