impoverish

动词 impoverish:

1. make poor
2. take away
   同义词：deprive

1. Heavy rain and excessive use have impoverished the soil.
   土地因招暴雨侵蚀及使用过度已贫瘠不堪。
2. Our lives would have been greatly impoverished, if we had not known our dear friend.
   若非认识我们这位好朋友，我们的生活一定十分不妙。

im.pov.er.ish

v.tr.（及物动词）
im.pov.er.ished,im.pov.er.ish.ing,im.pov.er.ish.es
To reduce to poverty; make poor.
使穷困；使赤贫
To deprive of natural richness or strength:
使贫瘠；耗尽…的力气：
例句：
impoverish the soil by overuse.See Synonyms at deplete
过度耕作而使土壤变得贫瘠参见 deplete

来源：
Middle English empoverishen
中古英语 empoverishen
from Old French empovrir empovriss-
源自 古法语 empovrir empovriss-
en- [causative pref.] * see in- 2
en- [表.原因.的前缀] *参见 in-2
povre [poor] from Latin pauper * see pauper
povre [贫穷的] 源自 拉丁语 pauper *参见 pauper

【引伸】
impov.erishment
n.（名词）