decimate

Meanings

Verb

kill one in every ten, as of mutineers in Roman armies
kill in large numbers
To kill one-tenth of (a group), (historical, specifically) as a military punishment in the Roman army selected by lot, usually carried out by the surviving soldiers.
To destroy or remove one-tenth of (something).
To devastate: to reduce or destroy significantly but not completely.
To exact a tithe or other 10% tax.
To tithe: to pay a 10% tax.
To divide into tenths; to decimalize.
To reduce to one-tenth: to destroy or remove nine-tenths of (something).
To replace (a high-resolution model) with another of lower but acceptable quality. (Usually algorithmically)

Noun

A tithe or other 10% tax or payment.
A tenth of something.
A set of ten items.

Origin / Etymology

The verb is first attested in 1591, the noun in 1641; borrowed from Latin decimātus, perfect passive participle of decimō (“to kill one tenth; to tithe”) (see, from -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (noun-forming suffix)), from decimus (“tenth”) + -ō (verb-forming suffix). As a noun, via Latin decimatus (“tithing area; tithing rights”).

Synonyms

annihilate, carry off, eliminate, eradicate, extinguish, tithe, wipe out

Scrabble Score: 13

decimate is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
decimate is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
decimate is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 15

decimate is a valid Words With Friends word