DECIMATION


Meaning of DECIMATION in English

ˌ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˈmāshən noun

( -s )

Etymology: Late Latin decimation-, decimatio, from Latin decimatus (past participle of decimare to pay as a tithe, select by lot and kill every tenth man of) + -ion-, -io -ion

1.

a. : the taking of tithes or of a tax of one tenth

b. : the tithe or tax taken

2. : a selection of every tenth person ; especially : selection by lot for punishment with death

3. : the destruction of a considerable part : reduction to the point of almost complete extermination

decimation of the forest Indians, brought about by disease — Farley Mowat

4.

a. : the act of decimating cryptographically

b. : the new sequence resulting from decimating

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.