Dec"i*mate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Decimated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Decimating (?).] [L. decimatus, p. p. of decimare to decimate (in senses 1 & 2), fr. decimus tenth. See Decimal.]
1.
To take the tenth part of; to tithe.
Johnson.
2.
To select by lot and punish with death every tenth man of; as, to decimate a regiment as a punishment for mutiny.
Macaulay.
3.
To destroy a considerable part of; as, to decimate an army in battle; to decimate a people by disease.
© Webster 1913.