Decimate: meaning, definitions and examples
๐ฅ
decimate
[ หdษs.ษช.meษชt ]
destruction scale
To decimate means to destroy a large portion of something or significantly reduce its strength or effectiveness. Originally, it referred specifically to the Roman military punishment of killing one in every ten soldiers in a mutinous group. In modern usage, it often applies to widespread devastation, such as that caused by natural disasters or warfare. The term conveys a sense of great loss or destruction, often implying that the remaining part is severely weakened.
Synonyms
annihilate, destroy, devastate, exterminate, obliterate
Examples of usage
- The hurricane decimated the coastal town.
- The disease decimated the population of the region.
- Overfishing has decimated fish populations worldwide.
Translations
Translations of the word "decimate" in other languages:
๐ต๐น decimar
๐ฎ๐ณ เคจเคทเฅเค เคเคฐเคจเคพ
๐ฉ๐ช decimieren
๐ฎ๐ฉ menghancurkan
๐บ๐ฆ ะฒะธะฝะธัะธัะธ
๐ต๐ฑ dziesiฤ tkowaฤ
๐ฏ๐ต ๅฃๆป ใใใ
๐ซ๐ท dรฉcimer
๐ช๐ธ diezmar
๐น๐ท รงok sayฤฑda รถldรผrmek
๐ฐ๐ท ๋๋์ผ๋ก ์ ๊ฑฐํ๋ค
๐ธ๐ฆ ุฅุจุงุฏุฉ
๐จ๐ฟ decimovat
๐ธ๐ฐ decimovaลฅ
๐จ๐ณ ๅคง่งๆจกๆฏ็ญ
๐ธ๐ฎ decimirati
๐ฎ๐ธ draga
๐ฐ๐ฟ ะถะพั
๐ฌ๐ช แแแแแชแแแ
๐ฆ๐ฟ decimษ
๐ฒ๐ฝ diezmar
Word origin
The word 'decimate' comes from the Latin term 'decimare', meaning 'to take a tenth'. It was initially used to describe a form of punishment used by the Roman army to deter rebellions. This punishment involved the execution of one in every ten soldiers in a unit that had displayed cowardice or insubordination. Over the centuries, the meaning of 'decimate' evolved from this specific military context to a more general sense of significant destruction or reduction. By the 17th century, the term started being used to describe devastations caused by natural disasters, plagues, and wars, indicating significant loss or depletion rather than just a literal one-tenth of a group. Today, while 'decimate' can still refer to a precise mathematical reduction to one-tenth, it is more commonly used to indicate drastic impact and destruction to a larger scale.