How Do You Spell DECIMATED?

Pronunciation: [dˈɛsɪmˌe͡ɪtɪd] (IPA)

The spelling of the word "decimated" may seem confusing, as it might suggest that only ten percent of something has been destroyed. However, the word actually means that a large portion, often near complete, has been ravaged or eradicated. The origin of the word comes from the Latin term "decimatus," which means "to take a tenth." In IPA phonetic transcription, the word is pronounced as "ˈdɛsəˌmeɪtɪd," with emphasis on the second syllable.

DECIMATED Meaning and Definition

1. "Decimated" is a term that originated from ancient Rome and refers to a process where a large population or group is drastically reduced in number, often resulting in significant destruction, devastation, or loss. The word is derived from the Latin term "decimare," which means "to take or destroy one-tenth." However, in modern usage, the term has come to be understood as a more severe impact than just ten percent.

   In contemporary language, "decimated" is commonly used to describe a situation in which a group, community, or population has suffered massive casualties, reduced to a fraction of its original size. It implies a significant reduction or loss that can be attributed to various causes such as warfare, natural disasters, diseases, or catastrophic events.

   This term can also be used metaphorically to describe other instances where there is a substantial decrease, depletion, or destruction. It can be applied to a wide range of contexts, including the economy, environment, organizations, or personal situations, indicating a severe decline or devastation.

   The term conveys a sense of overwhelming devastation and impact. It suggests a severe blow that has left a substantial and lasting impact on the affected group or entity, often implying a significant challenge in recovering from the loss and rebuilding what has been destroyed or lost.

Top Common Misspellings for DECIMATED *

• desimated 47.368421%
• dessimated 21.0526315%
• descimated 15.7894736%
• decemated 10.5263157%
• deciated 2.6315789%
• decidated 2.6315789%

* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.

Other Common Misspellings for DECIMATED

• desimate
• dicicated
• domimated
• decicated
• decitated
• decited
• decerated
• esimated
• dicipated
• decirated
• desigated
• decimatet
• desinated
• decipited
• terimated
• delimeted
• desicated
• delimted
• decitate
• dedcimated
• deviomater
• Decempted
• Decamaited
• Dicimaited
• dynimated
• debilated
• decimatan
• Encimated

Etymology of DECIMATED

The word "decimated" comes from the Latin word "decimare", which means "to take a tenth" or "to reduce by a tenth". It derives from the Latin noun "decimus", meaning "tenth". In ancient Rome, the practice of decimation referred to a punishment method used by the military. When a legion or troop was considered to have shown extreme cowardice, disobedience, or was perceived to have rebellious tendencies, one in ten soldiers would be chosen by lot to be executed as a means of discipline and intimidation. Over time, the word "decimate" was adopted into English to mean the severe destruction or drastic reduction of something, not necessarily limited to a tenth.

Conjugate verb Decimated

CONDITIONAL

I would decimate

we would decimate

you would decimate

he/she/it would decimate

they would decimate

FUTURE

I will decimate

we will decimate

you will decimate

he/she/it will decimate

they will decimate

FUTURE PERFECT

I will have decimated

we will have decimated

you will have decimated

he/she/it will have decimated

they will have decimated

PAST

I decimated

we decimated

you decimated

he/she/it decimated

they decimated

PAST PERFECT

I had decimated

we had decimated

you had decimated

he/she/it had decimated

they had decimated

PRESENT

I decimate

we decimate

you decimate

he/she/it decimates

they decimate

PRESENT PERFECT

I have decimated

we have decimated

you have decimated

he/she/it has decimated

they have decimated

I am decimating

we are decimating

you are decimating

he/she/it is decimating

they are decimating

I was decimating

we were decimating

you were decimating

he/she/it was decimating

they were decimating

I will be decimating

we will be decimating

you will be decimating

he/she/it will be decimating

they will be decimating

I have been decimating

we have been decimating

you have been decimating

he/she/it has been decimating

they have been decimating

I had been decimating

we had been decimating

you had been decimating

he/she/it had been decimating

they had been decimating

I will have been decimating

we will have been decimating

you will have been decimating

he/she/it will have been decimating

they will have been decimating

I would have decimated

we would have decimated

you would have decimated

he/she/it would have decimated

they would have decimated

I would be decimating

we would be decimating

you would be decimating

he/she/it would be decimating

they would be decimating

I would have been decimating

we would have been decimating

you would have been decimating

he/she/it would have been decimating

they would have been decimating