v.
Pronunciation: ' de-s ə - ˌ m ā t
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form: -mat · ed ; -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 \ ˌ de-s ə - ' m ā -sh ə n \ noun