depauperate

[ dih-paw-per-it ]

/ dɪˈpɔ pər ɪt /

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adjective Biology.

poorly or imperfectly developed.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of depauperate

1425–75; late Middle English <Late Latin dēpauperātus (past participle of dēpauperāre to make poor), equivalent to dē-de- + pauper(āre) to make poor (pauper- poor (see pauper) + -ātus-ate¹)

OTHER WORDS FROM depauperate

de·pau·per·a·tion

[dih-paw-puh-rey-shuhn], /dɪˌpɔ pəˈreɪ ʃən/, noun

Words nearby depauperate

Department of Transportation, Department of Veterans Affairs, department store, departure, depasture, depauperate, depend, dependability, dependable, dependant, dependence

How to use depauperate in a sentence

The muralis gopher is a depauperate form clearly belonging to the bottae group.
Comments on the Taxonomy and Geographic Distribution of Some North American Rodents|E. Raymond Hall
It looks like a depauperate L. epidendrum, but seems to be constantly collected.
The North American Slime-Moulds|Thomas H. (Thomas Huston) MacBride
Annuals may be very depauperate in dry soils or seasons, or very large when particularly well nourished.
The Elements of Botany|Asa Gray
The species was probably first named from poor or depauperate specimens.
The Wild Flowers of California: Their Names, Haunts, and Habits|Mary Elizabeth Parsons

Probably a depauperate form of Ophióglossum vulgàtum and about half as large.
The Fern Lover's Companion|George Henry Tilton