impoverish

verb

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

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

   “That exuberant crop quickly impoverishes any fertile soil.”

   “To many of us, organized religion is obnoxious. Yet if we throw out the sense of peace, order and joy that flows from religious ritual, we impoverish ourselves.”

3. To become poor.