enervate

[v. en-er-veyt; adj. ih-nur-vit] /v. ˈɛn ərˌveɪt; adj. ɪˈnɜr vɪt/
verb (used with object), enervated, enervating.
1.
to deprive of force or strength; destroy the vigor of; weaken.
Synonyms: enfeeble, debilitate, sap, exhaust.
adjective
2.
enervated.
Origin
1595-1605; < Latin ēnervātus weakened (past participle of ēnervāre) equivalent to ē- e-1 + nerv(us) sinew (see nerve) + -ātus -ate1; compare Anglo-French enervir, French énerver
Related forms
enervation, noun
enervative, adjective
enervator, noun
nonenervating, adjective
Can be confused
energize, enervate, innervate, invigorate.
Examples from the web for enervate
  • Although eventually the emotionally dark atmosphere may enervate the reader, the novel has a haunting power.
  • The nerves finally terminate in the wing cell layer from where they enervate the epithelium.
British Dictionary definitions for enervate

enervate

verb (ˈɛnəˌveɪt)
1.
(transitive) to deprive of strength or vitality; weaken physically or mentally; debilitate
adjective (ɪˈnɜːvɪt)
2.
deprived of strength or vitality; weakened
Derived Forms
enervation, noun
enervative, adjective
enervator, noun
Word Origin
C17: from Latin ēnervāre to remove the nerves from, from nervus nerve, sinew
Word Origin and History for enervate
v.

c.1600, from Latin enervatus, past participle of enervare "to weaken" (see enervation). Related: Ennervated; ennervating.

enervate in Medicine

enervate en·er·vate (ěn'ər-vāt')
v. en·er·vat·ed, en·er·vat·ing, en·er·vates

  1. To remove a nerve or nerve part.

  2. To cause weakness or a reduction of strength.

en'er·va'tion n.