| Definitions | | decimation |
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noun - A tithing.
- A selection of every tenth person by lot, as for punishment.
- (RQ:Shakespeare Timon), V-v - By and a tithed death, / ... take thou the destin'd tenth.
- 1702: w:Cotton Mather, Cotton Mather, Magnalia Christi Americana - And the whole army had cause to enquire into their own rebellions, when they saw the Lord of Hosts, with a dreadful , taking off so many of our brethren by the worst of executioners.
Etymology: From Latin Decimatio, a punishment where every 10th man in a unit would be stoned to death by the men who were spared. Used by the Romans to keep order in their military.
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