Impoverish

: To deplete a natural resource of its essential qualities . Poor farming techniques can impoverish the soil , stripping it of the nutrients needed for crops to grow .

The word stems from the Old French empovrir , combining the prefix en- (into) with povre (poor) . : It is a verb . Related Forms : impoverish

(Adjective): Describing a state of being poor or depleted . : To deplete a natural resource of its essential qualities