*A rare, signed, higher resolution and non-watermarked version of this image is available for download at: https://creary.net/digitalart/@jaichai/jaichai-decimate-etymology-and-original-digital-a
Decimate -
c. 1600, "to select by lot and put to death every tenth man," from Latin decimatus, past participle of decimare "the removal or destruction of one-tenth," from decem "ten" (from PIE root *dekm- "ten").
The killing of one in ten, chosen by lots, from a rebellious city or a mutinous army was a punishment sometimes used by the Romans.
The word has been used (loosely and unetymologically, to the irritation of pedants) since 1660s for "destroy a large but indefinite number of." Related: Decimated; decima
(https://www.etymonline.com/word/decimate)
Submitted FYI.
May you and yours be well and loving life today.
In Lak'ech, JaiChai
(JaiChai Jul 2022. Simultaneous multi-site submissions posted. All rights reserved.)