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Definition of "enervate" [e•ner•vate]

  • To weaken or destroy the strength or vitality of: "the luxury which enervates and destroys nations” ( Henry David Thoreau). See Synonyms at deplete. (verb-transitive)
  • Medicine To remove a nerve or part of a nerve. (verb-transitive)
  • Deprived of strength; debilitated. (adjective)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "enervate" in a sentence
  • "Ward, so weakened a body already 'enervate' and emaciated, that at first the patient "was thought to be falling into the agonies of death.""
  • "[1] But within a few days, apparently, of this date treatment employed on the advice of Dr Joshua Ward, so weakened a body already 'enervate' and emaciated, that at first the patient “was thought to be falling into the agonies of death.”"
  • "OT will someone tell Fiona Miller (on Daily Politics now) to look up the word "enervate" and use it correctly in future."