Main Entry: dec·i·mate

Pronunciation: \ˈde-sə-ˌmāt\

Function: transitive verb

Inflected Form(s): dec·i·mat·ed; dec·i·mat·ing

Etymology: Latin decimatus, past participle of decimare, from decimus tenth, from decem ten

Date: 1660

1 : to select by lot and kill every tenth man of
2 : to exact a tax of 10 percent from <poor as a decimated Cavalier — John Dryden>
3 a : to reduce drastically especially in number <cholera decimated the population> b : to cause great destruction or harm to <firebombs decimated the city> <an industry decimated by recession>

— dec·i·ma·tion \ˌde-sə-ˈmā-shən\ noun