# decimate

> English word · Verb · IPA /ˈdɛsɪmeɪt/ · frequency rank #52,878

## Definitions
1. To kill one-tenth of (a group), (historical, specifically) as a military punishment in the Roman army selected by lot, usually carried out by the surviving soldiers.
2. To destroy or remove one-tenth of (something).
3. To devastate: to reduce or destroy significantly but not completely.
4. To exact a tithe or other 10% tax.
5. To tithe: to pay a 10% tax.
6. To divide into tenths; to decimalize.
7. To reduce to one-tenth: to destroy or remove nine-tenths of (something).
8. To replace (a high-resolution model) with another of lower but acceptable quality. (Usually algorithmically)

## Etymology
The verb is first attested in 1591, the noun in 1641; borrowed from Latin decimātus, perfect passive participle of decimō (“to kill one tenth; to tithe”) (see, from -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (noun-forming suffix)), from decimus (“tenth”) + -ō (verb-forming suffix). As a noun, via Latin decimatus (“tithing area; tithing rights”).

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/decimate