decimation

Pronunciation: /ˌdɛsɪˈmeɪʃən/

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun destroying or killing a large part of the population (literally every tenth person as chosen by lot)

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin decimātiō, a punishment where every 10th man in a unit would be stoned to death by the men who were spared. Used by the Romans to keep order in their military. Compare septimation and vicesimation.

In classic literature

Semantic network

Broader (hypernyms)
destruction

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