# impoverish

> English word · Verb · IPA /ɪmˈpɒv(ə)ɹɪʃ/

## Definitions
1. To make poor.
2. To weaken in quality; to deprive of some strength or richness.
3. To become poor.

## Etymology
From Middle English empoverishen, impoverishen, empoverischen, enpoverisshen, Anglo-Norman empoveriss-, from Old French empoverir, from em- + povre, from Latin pauper (“poor”) (English poor).

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/impoverish