decimare
To decimate in Latin is decimare.
The verb means to devastate: to reduce or destroy significantly but not completely. In a classical Roman context, the term specifically refers to the military punishment of killing one out of every ten men in a unit.
Meaning: to devastate: to reduce or destroy significantly but not completely (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
The verb is derived from decimus, meaning tenth, referring to the practice of killing every tenth soldier. Thus, decimare literally means to take a tenth.
How does it change in a sentence?
The perfect passive participle is decimatus, which can be used as an adjective to describe something that has been decimated.
Did you know?
- In Latin, the concept of decimare is closely related to the word decima, which refers to a tithe or a tenth part given as a tax or religious offering.
- In Latin, the root decim- also gives us the word decimus, which is the basis for the English word 'decimal', linking a method of mass execution to a system of mathematics.
- The term decimare is tied to a lottery system where the victims were chosen by chance rather than by their individual actions.
Examples in context
- Bellum urbem decimare potest.War can devastate the city.
Example conversation
Lucia and Lucius discuss the effects of a recent storm on their crops.
- LuciaVentus omnes vines decimare videt.The wind seems to devastate all the vines.
- LuciusIta, sed non omnia periunt.Yes, but not everything is perishing.
- LuciaQuid nunc facere possumus?What can we do now?
- LuciusNovas plantas ponere debemus.We must plant new ones.
