to depredate
- verb
- /ˈdɛprɪˌdeɪt/
- Formal
:
depredar
- The pirates decided to depredate the coastal village, stealing anything of value in sight.
Examples
-
During the war, soldiers would depredate enemy territory, taking resources from towns they invaded.
-
My ancestors Robert and Peter Pollock supported both Paisley and Melrose abbeys, which were later depredated by Edward I in his general attack on Scottish abbeys.
Blog text (32) -
I guess my question would be, "How do they know that the two wolves that were killed were even from the depredating pack?" And will the necropsies be expansive enough to prove one way or the other? Lastly, would the state say that the wolves were not involved in depredations if it was confirmed through the necropsies, or would they come out with the old, "We got 'em" line?
Blog text (17) -
Wild animals often depredate the farmer's crops, leaving him with significant losses each season.
Synonyms
44
4.9
To damage public or private property on purpose
15
4.2
Completely destroy an idea, argument, or reputation
2
9.3
Steal valuable things and damage a place or person, often by force
2
7.6
To attack a place and take valuable things, often destroying it
1
6.1
Damage a place by force and take or destroy its things
Robbed and badly damaged during war or fighting
To steal something from someone often by force
To take someone's land or property away illegally
Antonyms
How Destructive
221
4.9
73
6.6
- Formal
26
6.0
49
4.2
373
4.9
Surface Forms
Morphology
depredate = de + pred + ate
Although historically analyzable into Latin elements (de- + praed- + -ate), the components are not recognizable or productive English morphemes for learners, so the verb's meaning cannot be reliably derived from its parts.
Etymology
Depredate comes from the Latin word praeda, meaning 'prey' or 'loot', and it shares its root with predator, so imagine taking the 'prey' away. So to depredate a village or place is to plunder, rob, or lay waste to it by force.