decimation etymology

Etymology:

  • From Latin decimare ("to tithe"), from decimus ("tenth")

Meaning:

  • Originally, the killing of one in every ten soldiers as punishment for a crime.
  • Now, any great reduction or destruction.

Origin:

The term "decimation" originated in ancient Rome, where it was a form of military punishment. When a legion committed a serious offense, such as mutiny or cowardice, every tenth soldier was randomly selected and executed as a deterrent. This practice was intended to instill discipline and prevent further wrongdoing.

Later, the term was extended to refer to any mass killing or large-scale destruction. It is often used in historical contexts, such as the Nazi decimation of the Polish population during World War II.

Today, "decimation" is still used metaphorically to describe a significant reduction or destruction. For example, it might be used to describe the impact of a natural disaster on a population or the decline of a species due to habitat loss.

decimation relate terms

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  • December

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  • deci

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  • decile

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  • decimal

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  • decimate

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  • decimation

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  • eighteen

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  • fifteen

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  • fourteen

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  • octogenarian

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  • tenth

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  • thirteen

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  • thousand

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  • tithe

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  • devastation

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  • destruction

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  • demise

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  • canon

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  • redeem

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