French Conversation · Level 112
59 words
French word
démunir
Pronunciation
IPA/demyniʁ/
Meaning
- verbimpoverish
Example
La guerre l'a démuni de tout son patrimoine.
The war impoverished him, taking away all his assets.
More examples
La crise économique a démuni plusieurs familles.
The economic crisis impoverished several families.
Core concept
A person left without the material or inner resources needed to cope.
Common phrases
démunir quelqu'un de tout
deprive someone of everything
démunir quelqu'un de ses économies
deprive someone of their savings
Similar words
priver: To take away something needed or a right, leaving someone without it.
appauvrir: To impoverish by diminishing wealth, assets, or living standards.
dépouiller: To strip a person of their belongings.
ruiner: To cause financial ruin that makes normal living impossible.
Definition in French
Retirer à une personne ou à un groupe les moyens matériels (ou parfois moraux) nécessaires, la laisser dans le besoin.
Word origin
Démunir comes from Old French desmunir, built with de- and munir, a verb descended from Latin munire, "to fortify," so it came to mean removing means or protection.
Usage tips
- Démunir quelqu'un de quelque chose is the active construction, while être démuni de quelque chose is common in passive or adjectival use.