decimation

decimation (des-[schwa]-may-sh[schwa]n).

1. A major destruction of people; a great loss of life.

2. Hist. A tithing; a payment of the tenth part.

3. Hist. A punishment, esp. by death, of every tenth person by lot. • Under Roman law, decimatio referred to the punishment by lot of every tenth soldier in a legion for mutiny or cowardice.

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词条贡献者

译员黎川，在一家顶尖澳洲律师事务所的上海办公室担任全职法律翻译，擅长翻译涉及工业与制造业领域的法律文件。