D — Dependency to Depopulation (Part 6 of 6)

1. (Law) One who deposes or testifies under oath; one who gives evidence; usually, one who testifies in writing.

2. (Gr. & Lat. Gram.) A deponent verb.

Syn. — Deponent, Affiant. These are legal terms describing a person who makes a written declaration under oath, with a view to establish certain facts. An affiant is one who makes an affidavit, or declaration under oath, in order to establish the truth of what he says. A deponenet is one who makes a deposition, or gives written testimony under oath, to be used in the trial of some case before a court of justice. See under Deposition.

Deponent
(De*po"nent), a. [L. deponens, -entis, laying down p. pr. of deponere: cf. F. déponent. See Depone.] (Gram.) Having a passive form with an active meaning, as certain latin and Greek verbs.

Depopulacy
(De*pop"u*la*cy) n. Depopulation; destruction of population. [R.] Chapman.

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. dépeupler. 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?

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.

Depopulate
(De*pop"u*late), v. i. To become dispeopled. [R.]

Whether the country be depopulating or not.

Depopulation
(De*pop`u*la"tion) n. [L. depopulatio pillaging: cf. F. dépopulation depopulation.] The act of depopulating, or condition of being depopulated; destruction or explusion of inhabitants.

The desolation and depopulation [of St.Quentin] were now complete.