• TransplantedSconie@lemm.ee
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    12 days ago

    decimate /dĕs′ə-māt″/

    transitive verb

    1. To destroy or kill a large part of (a group of people or organisms).

    2. To inflict great destruction or damage on.

      “The storm decimated the region.”

    3. To reduce markedly in amount.

      “a profligate heir who decimated his trust fund.”

    While some of the other definitions are “to take a tenth of” or “one out of every ten”, the top three are usually the most common usage of the word in modern times.