enervate

[ verb en-er-veyt; adjective ih-nur-vit ]

See synonyms for: enervate enervated enervating enervation on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),en·er·vat·ed, en·er·vat·ing.

to deprive of force or strength; destroy the vigor of; weaken.

adjective

enervated.

Origin of enervate

First recorded in 1595–1605; from Latin ēnervātus “weakened” (past participle of ēnervāre ), equivalent to ē- “from, out of” + nerv(us) “sinew” + -ātus adjective suffix; see origin at e-¹, nerve, -ate¹; compare Anglo-French enervir, French énerver

Other words for enervate

1	enfeeble, debilitate, sap, exhaust

See synonyms for enervate on Thesaurus.com

Other words from enervate

en·er·va·tion, noun
en·er·va·tive, adjective
en·er·va·tor, noun
non·en·er·vat·ing, adjective

Words that may be confused with enervate

1. enervate , innervate
2. energize, enervate

Words Nearby enervate

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use enervate in a sentence

This was the beginning of the fatal practice destined in the end to enervate France and demoralize the army.
The Life of Napoleon Bonaparte | William Milligan Sloane
Then as they are almost all fighting men (tata toa) they are restricted that they may not weaken or enervate themselves.
A Voyage to the South Sea | William Bligh
What is the use of wondrous gifts of language, if they are employed to enervate, p. 19and not to ennoble, their hearers?
The Claims of Labour | Arthur Helps
To enervate, irritate, or corrupt the body is to produce a like effect upon the mind.
Aims and Aids for Girls and Young Women | George Sumner Weaver
They are full of weaknesses and pains that wear out life and enervate all their mental and spiritual powers.
Aims and Aids for Girls and Young Women | George Sumner Weaver

British Dictionary definitions for enervate

enervate

verb(ˈɛnəˌveɪt)

(tr) to deprive of strength or vitality; weaken physically or mentally; debilitate

adjective(ɪˈnɜːvɪt)

deprived of strength or vitality; weakened

Origin of enervate

C17: from Latin ēnervāre to remove the nerves from, from nervus nerve, sinew

Derived forms of enervate

enervation, noun
enervative, adjective
enervator, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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