Defn: Depopulation; destruction of population. [R.] Chapman.
DEPOPULATE De*pop"u*late, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Depopulated; p. pr. & vb. n. Depopulating.] Etym: [L. depopulatus, p. p. of depopulari to ravage; de- + populari to ravage, fr. populus people: cf. OF. depopuler, F. dépeupler. See People.]
Defn: To deprive of inhabitants, whether by death or by expulsion; to reduce greatly the populousness of; to dispeople; to unpeople. Where is this viper, That would depopulate the city Shak.
Note: It is not synonymous with laying waste or destroying, being limited to the loss of inhabitants; as, an army or a famine may depopulate a country. It rarely expresses an entire loss of inhabitants, but often a great diminution of their numbers; as, the deluge depopulated the earth.
DEPOPULATE
De*pop"u*late, v. i.
Defn: To become dispeopled. [R.]
Whether the country be depopulating or not. Goldsmith.
DEPOPULATION De*pop`u*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. depopulatio pillaging: cf. F. dépopulation depopulation.]
Defn: The act of depopulating, or condition of being depopulated;
destruction or explusion of inhabitants.
The desolation and depopulation [of St.Quentin] were now complete.
Motley.
DEPOPULATOR
De*pop"u*la`tor, n. Etym: [L., pillager.]
Defn: One who depopulates; a dispeopler.