Populate, a.
Etymology: [L. populus people. See People.]
Populous. [Obs.] Bacon.
2 other Webster entries under this spelling
Populate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Populated; p. pr. & vb. n. Populating.]
To furnish with inhabitants, either by natural increase or by immigration or colonization; to cause to be inhabited; to people.
Populate, v. i.
To propagate. [Obs.] Great shoals of people which go on to populate. Bacon.
Shades of meaning
Fernald lists populate only as an antonym, under exterminate.
He lists it without comment; the entries above explain its neighbors.
Synonyms
none given