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What is the definition of 'depauperise' (or 'depauperize')? Does it mean "to make someone poor", or "to rescue someone from poverty" (de- +‎ pauperize)? Has its meaning changed over time? What is its etymology?

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    @DecapitatedSoul - That link gives both definitions.
    – Hot Licks
    Commented Apr 19, 2021 at 20:16
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    Collins Dictionary gives the two seemingly opposite meanings above; Chambers 20th Century Dictionary gives Depauperise - to remove from the state of paupers and_Depauperate, to impoverish. These words are not in common use.
    – Michael Harvey
    Commented Apr 19, 2021 at 20:37
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    @HotLicks - what link?
    – Michael Harvey
    Commented Apr 19, 2021 at 20:39
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    The existence of the two opposite senses stems from the prefix de- having two roughly opposite senses. The more common meaning of the prefix favours interpreting the word to mean remove from poverty, but the analogy with the biological term (adjective) depauperate favours interpreting it to mean impoverish. Given that the word is very rarely used in either sense, it is impossible to say which sense is the dominant one.
    – jsw29
    Commented Apr 19, 2021 at 20:50
  • @MichaelHarvey - The link DS deleted.
    – Hot Licks
    Commented Apr 19, 2021 at 21:12

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It appears to have been used with opposite meanings as far back as Google can remember.

What is wanted is to depauperize the country, as quickly as possible, forthwith. The advantages of the proposed system are two-fold. One consists in providing cheap and healthy support for the destitute.

The Present Poverty of Ireland Convertible Into the Means of Her Improvement, Under a Well-administered Poor Law (1838)

...and Sir Edward Coke conceives it [usury] was meant to be taken of strangers only, as a mean to exterminate or depauperize them, so as they should not be enabled to invade or injure God's people.

A Summary of the History and Law of Usury (1835)

It seems reasonable to suspect that this discrepancy was caused by some confusion, or some different opinions on whether depauperize should mean to make depauperate, or to un-pauperize.

pauperize verb

: to reduce to poverty

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First Known Use of pauperize
1806, in the meaning defined above

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pauperize

depauperate adjective

1 : falling short of natural development or size

2 : impoverished
a depauperate fauna

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First Known Use of depauperate
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/depauperate

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  • Thanks for the info.! Probably the best we can get for now, although more research by etymologists would be appreciated.
    – WhatsUpDoc
    Commented Apr 23, 2021 at 15:13

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