Depopulate word meaning and definition

[verb] reduce in population; "The epidemic depopulated the countryside"

\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. 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.
\De*pop"u*late\, v. i. To become dispeopled. [R.] Whether the country be depopulating or not. --Goldsmith.

Morse code: -.. . .--. --- .--. ..- .-.. .- - .