impoverished
UK: ɪmˈpɒvərɪʃt | US: ɪmˈpɑːvərɪʃt
adj. reduced to poverty; deprived of strength, resources, or vitality
adj. (of land or resources) exhausted or depleted
impoverished = im<into, negative> + pover<poor> + ished<adjective suffix>
- im (prefix): from Latin in-, meaning "into" or "not" (negative force).
- pover (root): from Old French povre (modern pauvre), meaning "poor," derived from Latin pauper.
- ished (suffix): past participle/adjective-forming suffix from Old English -isc, indicating state or condition.
Etymology Origin:
The word traces back to Latin pauper (poor) through Old French povre. The prefix im- intensifies the negative state, while -ished marks it as an adjective. Originally describing financial poverty, it later expanded metaphorically to describe depleted resources or vitality.
The war left many families impoverished and homeless.
Years of drought have impoverished the once-fertile soil.
His health was impoverished by years of neglect.
The region's impoverished economy struggles to recover.
She dedicated her life to helping impoverished communities.