v.
Pronunciation: im- ' päv-rish, - ' pä-v ə -
Function: transitive verb
Etymology: Middle English enpoverisshen, from Anglo-French empoveriss-, stem of empoverir, from en- + povre poor ― more at POOR
Date: 15th century
1 : to make poor
2 : to deprive of strength, richness, or fertility by depleting or draining of something essential
synonyms see DEPLETE
– im · pov · er · ish · er noun
– im · pov · er · ish · ment \ -m ə nt \ noun