from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Depopulate \De*pop"u*late\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Depopulated};
p. pr. & vb. n. {Depopulating}.] [L. depopulatus, p. p. of
depopulari to ravage; de- + populari to ravage, fr. populus
people: cf. OF. depopuler, F. d['e]peupler. See {People}.]
To deprive of inhabitants, whether by death or by expulsion;
to reduce greatly the populousness of; to dispeople; to
unpeople.
[1913 Webster]
Where is this viper,
That would depopulate the city? --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
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.
[1913 Webster]