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depopulate

 - 3 dictionary results

de⋅pop⋅u⋅late

[v. dee-pop-yuh-leyt; adj. dee-pop-yuh-lit, -leyt] verb, -lat⋅ed, -lat⋅ing, adjective
–verb (used with object)
1. to remove or reduce the population of, as by destruction or expulsion.
–adjective
2. Archaic. depopulated.

Origin:
1525–35; < L dēpopulātus devastated (ptp. of dēpopulārī), equiv. to dē- de- + populātus; see populate


de⋅pop⋅u⋅la⋅tion, noun
de⋅pop⋅u⋅la⋅tive, adjective
de⋅pop⋅u⋅la⋅tor, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
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de·pop·u·late   (dē-pŏp'yə-lāt')   
tr.v.   de·pop·u·lat·ed, de·pop·u·lat·ing, de·pop·u·lates
To reduce sharply the population of, as by disease, war, or forcible relocation.

[Latin dēpopulāri, dēpopulāt-, to lay waste : dē-, de- + populārī, to ravage (from populus, people, throng).]
de·pop'u·la'tion n., de·pop'u·la'tor n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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depopulate 
1545, from de- + populate.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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