 | WordWeight : Weighing the Words |
| WordWeight : Weighing the Words |
Decimate
Pronunciation : Dec"i*mate
Part of Speech : v.
Etymology : [L. decimatus, p. p. of decimare to decimate (in senses 1 & 2), fr. decimus tenth. See Decimal.]
Definition : 1. To take the tenth part of; to tithe. Johnson.
2. To select by lot and punish with death every tenth man of; as, to decimate a regiment as a punishment for mutiny. Macaulay.
3. To destroy a considerable part of; as, to decimate an army in battle; to decimate a people by disease.
t. [imp. & p. p. Decimated; p. pr. & vb. n. Decimating.]
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
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