Dec″i‐mate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p.Decimated (?); p. pr. & vb. n.Decimating (?).] [L. decimatus, p. p. of decimare to decimate (in senses 1 & 2), fr. decimus tenth. See Decimal.] 1. To take the tenth part of; to tithe. Johnson.
2. To select by lot and punish with death every tenth man of; as, to decimate a regiment as a punishment for mutiny. Macaulay.
3. To destroy a considerable part of; as, to decimate an army in battle; to decimate a people by disease.