[WayneS]

I am really tired of people mis-using that word.

DECIMATE mean to kill one in every ten (usually randomly or by lots). The Romans would occasionally decimate their captured enemies in order to terrorize them and cause loss of morale.

So how, exactly, do you “decimate” an individual?

Despite his politics, I previously have not thought of Chevy Chase as an illiterate, but maybe he is...

[Sans-Culotte]

DECIMATE mean to kill one in every ten (usually randomly or by lots). The Romans would occasionally decimate their captured enemies in order to terrorize them and cause loss of morale.

Or they decimated their own legions if they continually broke in battle.