| 释义 |
decimation|dɛsɪˈmeɪʃən|
[ad. L. decimātiōn-em the taking of a tenth, tithing, n. of action from decimāre to decimate.]
1. The exaction of tithes, or of a tax of one-tenth; the tithe or tax itself.
Popularly applied to the tax levied by Cromwell on the Royalists in 1655: see Calendar Domestic St. Pap. 1655, 347. Cf. decimate v. 1.
1549Latimer 6th Serm. bef. Edw. VI (Arb.) 165 Their doctrine was..but of Lotions [mispr. Lolions], of decimations of anets seade, and Cummyn. c1630in Rushw. Hist. Coll. (1659) I. App. 14 The first means..to increase your Majesty's revenues..I call it a Decimation, being so tearmed in Italy..importing the tenth of all Subjects Estates to be paid as a yearly Rent to their Prince. 1655Evelyn Mem. (1857) I. 327 This day came forth the Protector's Edict, or Proclamation..with the decimation of all the royal party's revenues throughout England. 1657Major-Gen. Desbrowe Sp. in Parlt. 7 Jan., I think it is too light a tax, a decimation; I would have it higher. 1669Worlidge Syst. Agric. vii. §1 (1681) 111 One that would not improve a very good piece of ground..with Fruit-trees, because the Parson would have the decimation of it. 1738Neal Hist. Purit. IV. 123 To sequester such as did not pay their Decimation. 1827Pollok Course T. ii. 669 The priest collected tithes, and pleaded rights Of decimation, to the very last. 1869W. Molyneux Burton on Trent 40 This decimation was under a punishment of excommunication by Pope Alexander IV.
2. Milit. The selection by lot of every tenth man to be put to death, as a punishment in cases of mutiny or other offence by a body of soldiers, etc.
1580North Plutarch (1676) 768 Antonius..executed the Decimation. For he divided his men by ten Legions, and then of them he put the tenth Legion to death. 1617Collins Def. Bp. Ely i. ii. 99. 1717 De Foe Mem. Ch. Scot. iii. 75 After the Decimations and Drafts made out of them for the Gibbet and Scaffold were over, these were sentenc'd to Transportation. 1827Macaulay Machiavelli Ess. (1854) 39/2 Whether decimation be a convenient mode of military execution.
b. The execution of nine out of every ten. rare.
1867Freeman Norm. Conq. (1876) I. App. 674 A systematic decimation of the surviving male adults. By decimation is here meant the slaying, not of one out of ten, but of nine out of ten.
†c. The selection of every tenth member for any purpose. Obs. rare.
1632J. Lee Short Surv. 36 The foot forces are culled and pickt out from among the choicest youth..by decimation, or taking every tenth man. 1742Warburton Wks. (1811) XI. 155 Of a hundred arguments from reason and authority..he has not ventured so much as at a decimation.
3. transf.
a. The killing or destruction of one in every ten.
b. loosely. Destruction of a large proportion; subjection to severe loss, slaughter, or mortality.
1682Sir T. Browne Chr. Mor. 65 The mercy of God hath singled out but few to be the signals of His justice..But the inadvertency of our natures not well apprehending this merciful decimation, etc. 1856J. H. Newman Callista 267 The population is prostrated by..pestilence, and by the decimation which their riot brought upon them. 1871Daily News 21 Sept., In situations where their decimation by smart rifle practice would be almost a foregone conclusion. |