Im*pov"er*ish (?), v. t. [imp.
& p. p. Impoverished (?); p. pr. & vb.
n. Impoverishing.] [OF. empovrir; pref.
em- (L. in) + povre poor, F. pauvre; cf.
OF. apovrir, F. appauvrir, where the prefix is a-
, L. ad. Cf. Empoverish, and see Poor, and
-ish.] 1. To make poor; to reduce to
poverty or indigence; as, misfortune and disease impoverish
families.
2. To exhaust the strength, richness, or
fertility of; to make sterile; as, to impoverish
land.