| 释义 |
depopulator|dɪˈpɒpjʊleɪtə(r)|
[a. L. dēpopulātor spoiler, marauder, pillager, agent-n. from dēpopulāre (-ārī).]
†1. A waster, spoiler, devastator. Obs.
c1440Lydg. Secrees 30 Callyd prodigus which is nat honourable, Depopulator A wastour nat tretable. 1607Topsell Four-f. Beasts Pref., Bestia, i. à vastando, for that they were wilde and depopulators of other their associates. 1610Holland Camden's Brit. i. 427 Those wastfull depopulators did what they could..many a time to winne it by siege.
2. One who depopulates a district or country. In 17th c. esp. one who cleared off the rural population from his estates.
1623T. Scot Highways of God & K. 77 The Depopulator..to inhanse his Rents, puls downe all the petty Tenements and Farmes, and will haue none dwell neere him. 1626in Rushw. Hist. Coll. (1659) I. 356 Covetous Landlords, Inclosers, Depopulators. 1642Fuller Holy State 237 (T.) Our puny depopulators allege for their doings the king's and country's good. 1798Malthus Popul. ii. ii. (1806) I. 339 Wars, plagues or that greater depopulator than either, a tyrannical government. 1827Scott Napoleon Introd., Collot d'Herbois, the demolisher and depopulator of Lyons. |