What is Decimate?
1.
A frequently misused word.
Decimate literally means to reduce something by a tenth, but many people use it instead to mean "totally destroy." The word "obliterate" would be a better choice than "decimate."
Decimate comes from the root "deci-" which can be found in other words involving ten, "decimal" for example.
When I decimated the cookies I ate ten out of the hundred-cookie batch.
Joe decimated the rock collection by getting rid of one tenth of the rocks.
2.
the verb to "decimate" comes from the root of the Latin word for ten. Obvious enough, but the use gets more interesting. The verb "To decimate" is synonymous with "to destroy" and may be used to talk about a great reduction, loss, etc. "Decimation" was used as a Roman military strategy, as punishment for a severe crime, typically rebellion or desertion, the army would be forcibly lined up, and every tenth person would be killed. The form of group punishment based on the number ten is an adequate enough explanation for the origin of the word. Today, the word can be used in a less mathematical context, and still be grammatically correct, though it's still an intense verb.
General Sherman's tactics in the South decimated the Confederate's power by destroying the land and cutting off economic growth.
See
3.
to destroy a large part of .
face + rocket = decimated face
4.
To utterly pwninate Gaians by perfecting dueling and RPing skills on Gamefaqs before joining Gaiaonline
I Joined Decimor's war to DECIMate the Gains.
