Definition of 'depauperise'

What is the definition of 'depauperise' (or 'depauperize')? Does it mean "to make someone poor", or "to rescue someone from poverty" (de- +‎ pauperize)? Has its meaning changed over time? What is its etymology?

Solution 1:

It appears to have been used with opposite meanings as far back as Google can remember.

What is wanted is to depauperize the country, as quickly as possible, forthwith. The advantages of the proposed system are two-fold. One consists in providing cheap and healthy support for the destitute.

The Present Poverty of Ireland Convertible Into the Means of Her Improvement, Under a Well-administered Poor Law (1838)

...and Sir Edward Coke conceives it [usury] was meant to be taken of strangers only, as a mean to exterminate or depauperize them, so as they should not be enabled to invade or injure God's people.

A Summary of the History and Law of Usury (1835)

It seems reasonable to suspect that this discrepancy was caused by some confusion, or some different opinions on whether depauperize should mean to make depauperate, or to un-pauperize.

pauperize verb

: to reduce to poverty

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First Known Use of pauperize
1806, in the meaning defined above

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pauperize

depauperate adjective

1 : falling short of natural development or size

2 : impoverished
a depauperate fauna

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First Known Use of depauperate
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/depauperate