decimation
Meaning
The act of killing or destroying a large proportion of a group.
(Historical) A form of military discipline in the Roman army where one in every ten soldiers in a disgraced unit was killed by lot.
Structure
Usage
The epidemic caused the decimation of the local deer population.
The industry faced decimation after the new regulations were introduced.
In ancient Rome, decimation was a feared punishment for units that showed cowardice in battle.
Etymology
The word 'decimation' originates from the Latin decimatio, itself derived from decimus meaning 'tenth'. It referred to the brutal Roman military practice of punishing a mutinous or cowardly legion by executing one soldier, chosen by lot, out of every ten. This literal meaning of "taking a tenth" evolved through historical usage to signify severe punishment and widespread destruction. Over time, the proportional aspect receded, and the term generalized to mean the severe reduction or destruction of any large portion of a group, carrying the connotation of a drastic and often ruthless culling.
Analysis
decim (from Latin decimus, meaning 'tenth', of Latin origin); ation (a noun-forming suffix indicating an action or process, of Latin origin via French).