sap
transitive verb
intransitive verb
Noun (1)
Verb (1)
weaken, enfeeble, debilitate, undermine, sap, cripple, disable mean to lose or cause to lose strength or vigor.
weaken may imply loss of physical strength, health, soundness, or stability or of quality, intensity, or effective power.
enfeeble implies a condition of marked weakness and helplessness.
debilitate suggests a less marked or more temporary impairment of strength or vitality.
undermine and sap suggest a weakening by something working surreptitiously and insidiously.
cripple implies causing a serious loss of functioning power through damaging or removing an essential part or element.
disable suggests bringing about impairment or limitation in a physical or mental ability.
Middle English, from Old English sæp; akin to Old High German saf sap
Verb (2)
Middle French sapper, from Old Italian zappare, from zappa hoe
Noun (2)
French sape, from saper
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
1725, in the meaning defined at sense 1
1598, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense
1642, in the meaning defined above
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