What is the real meaning of decimate?

In standard English, decimate means, “to destroy a significant proportion, to devastate”. For some reason, this uncontroversial and historically accurate sentence drives a certain type of pedant to completely lose their minds.

What’s the origin of decimate?

Decimate was first used in 1600 and was derived from the Latin word decimatus, which meant the “the removal or destruction of one-tenth”.

When was decimation first used?

471 BC
History. The practice of Decimation is recorded to have been used as early as 471 BC, but the practice was stopped and replaced by other forms of punishment. The practice was resumed by Marcus Licinius Crassus during the Third Servile War. Historically, around 10,000 men returned to Crassus’ camp.

When did the Romans use decimation?

Roman general Crassus ordered decimation after the defeat by Spartacus in 71 BC. Julius Caesar threatened to decimate his ninth legion during the Roman Civil War (49–45 BC). Mark Anthony, after being defeated by Parthians in 36 BC, ordered decimation too. The most famous case of decimation is the Theban legion.

What was the meaning of decimate in the Roman army?

It is true that one early meaning of decimate, according to the OED, was “to kill one-tenth.” It sprang from a harsh disciplinary practice of the Roman army called (not surprisingly) decimation. If a unit was found to be mutinous or cowardly, one-tenth of the soldiers would be executed.

Where does the word ” decimate ” come from?

It sprang from a harsh disciplinary practice of the Roman army called (not surprisingly) decimation. If a unit was found to be mutinous or cowardly, one-tenth of the soldiers would be executed. The earliest known use of decimate in this sense is from about 1600. The word has another early meaning as well, however.

Who was the Roman Emperor who used decimation?

Suetonius records that it was used by Emperor Augustus in 17 BC and later by Galba, while Tacitus records that Lucius Apronius used decimation to punish a full cohort of the III Augusta after their defeat by Tacfarinas in AD 20.

When was the last time Decimation was used?

It is mentioned again during the civil wars, but was hardly applied during the empire, although a couple of instances are known, like the punishment of the Third legion Augusta (in the year 18). The latest recorded case of decimation is during the reign of Diocletian.