ə̇mˈpäv(ə)rish, -rēsh, esp in pres part -rəsh transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-es )
Etymology: Middle English enpoverisen, from Middle French empovriss-, stem of empovrir, from en- en- (I) + povre poor — more at poor
1. : to make poor : reduce to poverty or indigence
a family impoverished by misfortune and sickness
a foolish effort to impoverish life by robbing men of sustaining vision — M.R.Cohen
the provinces were impoverished of their scientific talent — S.F.Mason
2. : to exhaust the strength, richness, or fertility of : make sterile
worked the land year after year until it was impoverished
Synonyms: see deplete