Decimate
Decimate , transitive verb
[Latin decimatus, past participle of decimare to decimate (in senses 1 & 2), from 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.