\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.