— impoverisher , n. — impoverishment , n.
/im pov"euhr ish, -pov"rish/ , v.t.
1. to reduce to poverty: a country impoverished by war.
2. to make poor in quality, productiveness, etc.; exhaust the strength or richness of: Bad farming practices impoverished the soil.
[ 1400-50; late ME empoverishen empovriss- (long s. of empovrir ), equiv. to em- EM- 1 + povre POOR + -iss -ISH 2 ]
Syn. 2. deplete, drain; weaken, enervate, fatigue, cripple.
Ant. 1, 2. enrich.