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.