Category:Decimate

Dec"i*mate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Decimated; p. pr. & vb. n. Decimating.] Etym: [L. decimatus, p. p. of decimare to decimate (in senses 1 & 2), fr. decimus tenth. See Decimal.]

1. To take the tenth part of; to tithe. Johnson.

2. To select by lot and punish with death every tenth man of; as, to decimate a regiment as a punishment for mutiny. Macaulay.

3. To destroy a considerable part of; as, to decimate an army in battle; to decimate a people by disease.