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Decimating Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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decimating

[ˈdɛsɪmeɪt ]

Definition

Context #1 | Verb

destroying drastically

To decimate means to destroy a large portion of something, often used in the context of reducing populations, resources, or structures severely. Originally, it referred to a specific punishment in the Roman army where one in every ten soldiers was killed as a punishment for mutiny or desertion.

Synonyms

annihilate, destroy, devastate, obliterate.

Examples of usage

  • The hurricane decimated the coastal town.
  • The disease was capable of decimating the entire population.
  • Overfishing is decimating fish stocks in the ocean.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

Historical Context

  • Throughout history, armies used decimation as a tactic to instill fear and ensure discipline among troops during troubling times.
  • During World War I, massive casualties were often described using the term to reflect the scale of loss experienced in battles.
  • In contemporary discussions, decimating is used metaphorically to describe significant impacts of war, disease, or natural disasters.

Science

  • In ecology, decimating a species or population can disrupt an entire ecosystem, leading to unforeseen consequences.
  • The concept of decimation has been applied in special fields like genetics, where drastic reductions can lead to genetic bottlenecks and loss of biodiversity.
  • Research in virology uses the term to describe how a virus can decimate cellular populations in an infected host.

Pop Culture

  • In movies and literature, the word often takes on dramatic connotations, portraying battle scenes where one side is rapidly overwhelmed.
  • Popular video games sometimes feature quests that involve decimating enemy forces, making it a common term in gaming lexicons.
  • Songs and bands may use the word in lyrics or band names to evoke strong feelings of destruction or loss.

Psychology

  • Experiencing decimating events can lead to collective trauma in communities, affecting mental health on a broad scale.
  • The term may evoke feelings of hopelessness or despair when discussing catastrophic events, influencing how people perceive danger.
  • Psychologically, understanding the impact of decimation can help in resilience training, preparing individuals for potential future events.

Origin of 'decimating'

Main points about word origin

  • The term comes from the Latin word 'decimatio', related to 'decimus', meaning 'tenth'.
  • Originally, decimating referred to a Roman military punishment where one in every ten soldiers was killed as a form of discipline.
  • The word evolved to describe a general reduction in a population or group, not limited to just the number ten.

The word 'decimate' comes from the Latin word 'decimare', which means to take a tenth. This term was derived from 'decimus', meaning 'tenth'. It originally referred to a punishment for mutiny among Roman soldiers where one in ten soldiers was executed. Over time, the meaning of decimation has evolved to imply the destruction or severe reduction of something to a significant degree, though it no longer carries the literal sense of referring to a tenth.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #35,786, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.