/ ˌdeprəˈdeɪʃn; NAmE / noun
[ usually pl. ] ( formal ) acts that cause damage to people's property, lives, etc.
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WORD ORIGIN
late 15th cent. (in the sense plundering, robbery , (plural) ravages ): from French déprédation , from late Latin depraedatio(n-) , from depraedari plunder.