Dĕc′i-māte, v. t.
v. t. [imp. & p. p. DECIMATED; p. pr. & vb. n. DECIMATING.] [Lat. decimāre, decimātum, from decimus, tenth, from decem, ten; Fr. décimer, It. decimare.]
Sense 1. To take the tenth part of; to tithe. Johnson.
Sense 2. To select by lot and punish with death every tenth man of; as, to decimate an army for the punishment of mutiny; to decimate a collection of prisoners by way of vengeance.
Sense 3. To destroy a certain portion of; to devastate; as, to decimate a country.