Lexic.us

Definition of Decimate

1. Verb. Kill one in every ten, as of mutineers in Roman armies.

2. Verb. Kill in large numbers. "They want to decimate the prisoners "; "The plague wiped out an entire population"

Definition of Decimate

1. v. t. To take the tenth part of; to tithe.

Definition of Decimate

1. Verb. (qualifier Roman history) To kill one man chosen by lot out of every ten in a legion or other military group. ¹

2. Verb. To reduce anything by one in ten, or ten percent. ¹

3. Verb. (historical) To exact a tithe, or tax of 10 percent. ¹

4. Verb. To reduce to one-tenth. ¹

5. Verb. To severely reduce; to destroy almost completely. ¹

6. Verb. (computer graphics) To replace a high-resolution model with one of lower resolution but acceptably similar appearance. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Decimate

1. to destroy a large part of [v -MATED, -MATING, -MATES]

Medical Definition of Decimate

1. 1. To take the tenth part of; to tithe. 2. To select by lot and punish with death every tenth man of; as, to decimate a regiment as a punishment for mutiny. 3. To destroy a considerable part of; as, to decimate an army in battle; to decimate a people by disease. Origin: L. Decimatus, p. P. Of decimare to decimate (in senses 1 & 2), fr. Decimus tenth. See Decimal. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Decimate

decimalisation decimalisations decimalise decimalised decimalises decimalising decimalism decimalization decimalizations decimalize

decimalized decimalizes decimalizing decimally decimals decimate (current term) decimated decimates decimating decimation

decimations decimator decimators decime decimes decimeter decimeters decimetre decimetres decimetric

Literary usage of Decimate

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Rise and Fall of the Irish Nation. by Jonah Barrington (1848)
"... King Henry's Acts in Ireland—His plan to decimate the nation—He relinquished his dominion over Ireland—Abortive attempts to colonize —Totally failed. ..."

2. Who's it in America: Being a Sort O'biography of Certain Prominent Persons by Charles Eustace Merriman (1906)
"Has devised a non-tobacco cigar, called the " Conreid," which he uses to decimate his friends. Author: " Star-gazing, or the Revelations of a Night. ..."

3. Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of English Usage by Inc. Merriam-Webster (1994)
"have relieved the grieving letter writer above; decimate has seldom ... Aside from a few technical uses, decimate has had thme main applications in English. ..."

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