noun
decimation
Decimation (noun) means the killing or punishment of every tenth person, usually by lot.
noun
1
The killing or punishment of every tenth person, usually by lot.
2
The killing or destruction of any large portion of a population.
3
A tithe or the act of tithing.
4
The creation of a new sequence comprising only every nth element of a source sequence.
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Etymology
Borrowed from Latin decimātiō, a punishment where every 10th man in a unit would be stoned to death by the men who were spared. Used by the Romans to keep order in their military. Compare septimation and vicesimation.
Rhymes for decimation
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
abortion
abrasion
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
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Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of decimation?
"decimation" (noun) means the killing or punishment of every tenth person, usually by lot.
What are the different meanings of decimation?
"decimation" has 3 main meanings: 1. The killing or punishment of every tenth person, usually by lot; 2. The killing or destruction of any large portion of a population; 3. A tithe or the act of tithing.