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The original meaning for the term decimate is to kill one man out of every ten.

This comes from ancient Roman times when mutinous squads were decimated. I.e. 1/10 of their soldiers were killed. The method in those times was to get the remaining 9 soldiers of every 10 to kill the chosen soldier.

Nowadays however, the meaning for decimate has changed to mean the destruction of the larger part of a group.

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Q: What is the original meaning for decimate?
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Meaning of decimate?

To take the tenth part of; to tithe., To select by lot and punish with death every tenth man of; as, to decimate a regiment as a punishment for mutiny., To destroy a considerable part of; as, to decimate an army in battle; to decimate a people by disease.


To destroy or take a tenth part of?

Only the second meaning is accurate: decimate


What is a good sentence for decimate?

If I decimate this meal, I'll only have eaten ten percent of it. The army is preparing to decimate the city.


When was Decimate Christendom created?

Decimate Christendom was created in 2004-03.


What part of speech is decimal decimate?

decimal is an adjective, decimate is a verb.


When was Decimate the Weak created?

Decimate the Weak was created on 2008-02-05.


How can you use the word decimate in a sentence?

You can not decimate all the people. King Decimated all the traitors.


What is ten centimeters?

a decimate


Which sentence uses decimate correctly?

My daughter is involved in a movement to decimate the local park by keeping its grounds clean.


Is dec a Latin root?

deci- is a prefix, meaning ten. e.g. decimate - reduce by a tenth; decibel - ten Bel (unit of sound)


What is a synonym for decimate?

Mass Murder


To destroy a large proportion of?

decimate