depleted
UK[dɪˈpliːtɪd]US[dɪˈpliːtɪd]
adj
used up; emptied of a vital resource or substance.
adj
greatly reduced in quantity or strength.
Morpheme Breakdown
de
plet
ed
de
completely
plet
fill
ed
adjective suffix
Etymology
the word 'depleted' originates from the latin verb 'deplere', meaning 'to empty out', which is itself composed of the intensive prefix 'de-' and the root 'plere' (to fill). this literal sense of 'emptying what was once full' passed into english via the latin past participle 'depletus'. the core semantic logic has remained remarkably consistent: from the physical emptying of a container to the modern abstract usage describing the exhaustion of resources, energy, or strength. the '-ed' suffix adapts the past participle into a standard english adjective form, describing a state resulting from the action of depletion.
Analysis
Structure: de (completely) + plet (fill) + ed (adjective suffix)
de- (latin origin, prefix meaning 'completely' or 'down from'), plet- (latin origin, from the root of 'plere' meaning 'to fill'), -ed (old english origin, suffix forming adjectives from verbs or nouns).
Examples
the prolonged drought has left the region's reservoirs severely depleted.
after running the marathon, she felt completely depleted of energy.
overfishing has caused the stock of cod in the north sea to become critically depleted.