Decimate



GRE Barron

解释

GRE 红宝书

• v. 毁掉大部分, 大量杀死
• ［英］ v. 毁掉大部分, 大量杀死 ( to destroy or kill a large part of)
• ［记］ decim ( 十分之一) +ate -> 杀...十分之一
• ［同］ 同根词: decimal ( 十进法的)
• ［例］ Disease decimated the population.

Webster Collegiate

transitive verb (-mated; -mating)

• Etymology: Latin decimatus, past participle of decimare, from decimus tenth, from decem ten
• Date: 1660
• 1. to select by lot and kill every tenth man of
• 2. to exact a tax of 10 percent from <poor as a decimated Cavalier — John Dryden>
• 3.
  • a. to reduce drastically especially in number <cholera decimated the population>
  • b. to cause great destruction or harm to <firebombs decimated the city><an industry decimated by recession>
• ? decimation noun

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