G-ManBart Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 For some reason I've been reading and hearing people on TV use the word "decimate" a lot lately and it's painfully obvious none of them know what the heck it means! Case in point was a show I was watching tonight. They were talking about an animal population that is threatened. They said "it has been decimated, with nearly 70% fewer numbers than X years ago". That's a really, stupid sentance. Why? The practice of decimation was developed by the Roman army. When an army unit did not fight hard enough, they would decimate the unit to encourage the others to fight harder. That meant lining up the unit and killing every tenth solider....decimus is the Latin for tenth. So while decimation is very unpleasant for those involved, and it's a significant number, it's certainly not a 70% casualty rate. I almost e-mailed a popular fiction author because he used the word over and over and it was wrong every single time! It's become a word I hate to hear Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speculatorking Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 Interesting. I didn't know that, and probably used that word wrong myself in the past. I will know better now. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fiddler Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 http://www.google.com/search?q=define%3Ade...lient=firefox-a The above link (if it doesn't work google define:decimate) lists several definitions for the word, including "To severely reduce; to destroy almost completely" and "The killing or destruction of a large portion of a population." I guess you are all correct but I feel your pain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Boudrie Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 Miss a property tax bill and watch how quickly they move to take your house. At least you didn't say alot of pain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 Maybe they had to decimate them animals seven times because threatening them just didn't work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zhunter Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 decimate |ˈdesəˌmāt| verb [ trans. ] (often be decimated) 1 kill, destroy, or remove a large percentage or part of : the project would decimate the fragile wetland wilderness | the American chestnut, a species decimated by blight. • drastically reduce the strength or effectiveness of (something) : plant viruses that can decimate yields. 2 historical kill one in every ten of (a group of soldiers or others) as a punishment for the whole group. Definition #2 is the one the Bart was using, but #1 would work in the usage in the TV show in question. Often times, and I hate this as we have this discussion at work all the time, common usage now allows a word to become accepted even though historically is it not correct. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 I don't think any of you guys know what you are talking about. Decimate packets keep guns from rusting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Smith Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 The meaning of the word is in the word it self - decimate is derived from decimal which means one tenth. Just one more case of the American public refusing to accept the metric system and use it properly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merlin Orr Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 (insert WGAF icon) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkleskiw Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 Haha @ Merlin's comment. That made my morning (but it's still early). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jadeslade Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 (edited) Often times, and I hate this as we have this discussion at work all the time, common usage now allows a word to become accepted even though historically is it not correct. To quote Wingmen10, "Tru dat". Edited September 15, 2009 by Jadeslade Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe4d Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 I think words are cool, I had a Latin teacher that got me started thinking about word origins original meanings and how they are today. Never thought of Decimate but the 10 is right there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChuckS Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 I think words are cool, I had a Latin teacher that got me started thinking about word origins original meanings and how they are today. Never thought of Decimate but the 10 is right there. And so is "mate" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jhgtyre Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 I think words are cool, I had a Latin teacher that got me started thinking about word origins original meanings and how they are today. Never thought of Decimate but the 10 is right there. And so is "mate" So your 10th wife is the decimate! lol -ld Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nashvillebill Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 (edited) Languages change, develop and evolve. Sometimes they just fade away. 'twas ever thus. Edited September 15, 2009 by nashvillebill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viggen Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 Relax. This is America and words mean nothing. Or rather thay mean whatever the speaker wants it to mean, in that sentence. The evolving metamorphasis of what is called a culture - ghetto verbology. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nashvillebill Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 Relax. This is America and words mean nothing. Or rather thay mean whatever the speaker wants it to mean, in that sentence. The evolving metamorphasis of what is called a culture - ghetto verbology. Word. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 (insert WGAF icon) My thoughts exactly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Singlestack Posted September 16, 2009 Share Posted September 16, 2009 This Hate rant has turned into a discussion, which is beyond the bounds of the rules for the Hate Forum. Thus, it must be closed. Please review the Hate Forum Rules: http://www.brianenos.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=8097 [note: this is a generic response] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts