poverty-alleviating
|pov-er-ty-al-lev-i-a-ting|
🇺🇸
/ˌpɑvərti əˈliːvieɪtɪŋ/
🇬🇧
/ˌpɒvəti əˈliːvieɪtɪŋ/
reduce poverty
Etymology
'poverty-alleviating' is a compound formed from 'poverty' + present participle form of 'alleviate'. 'poverty' comes from Old French 'povreté' (from Latin 'paupertās', from 'pauper' meaning 'poor'), and 'alleviate' comes from Latin 'alleviare' (from 'ad-' + 'levis' meaning 'light').
'poverty' entered Middle English from Old French 'povreté', ultimately from Latin 'paupertās'. 'alleviate' entered English via Old French/Medieval Latin from Latin 'alleviare' and became 'alleviate' in Early Modern English; combining the noun 'poverty' with the participial form 'alleviating' produced the compound adjective 'poverty-alleviating' in modern usage.
Initially, the root elements referred separately to 'lack of wealth' ('poverty') and 'make lighter/less burdensome' ('alleviate'); over time they combined into a modern compound meaning 'intended to make poverty less severe'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
noun form: 'poverty alleviation' — actions, policies, or programs intended to reduce or eliminate poverty.
Poverty alleviation remains a central goal of international development agencies.
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Adjective 1
designed or intended to reduce, relieve, or mitigate poverty; having the effect of lessening poverty.
The government launched several poverty-alleviating initiatives aimed at improving rural incomes.
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Last updated: 2025/11/15 21:18