Regarding the Incorrect Use of 'Decimate'

Merriam-Webster ^ | unknown | Word History

[IronJack]

To those purists who insist we religiously retain the original definition of the word, do you realize that you're condemning it to oblivion? It's not likely that in the 21st century, anyone is ever going to kill 1 of every 10 Roman Legionnaires. So the word is never going to be used, and our language is the poorer for that.

I say we keep it and adapt it to more modern usage.

[outofsalt]

"It drives the anal retentive side of my mind crazy wen people misuse that word."

I'm bedunged!

[Texas Eagle]

Some words SHOULD retain their original meaning. Words like “democracy” and “republic” for instance. Most people don’t know that a republic is a specific form of government but the word has been usurped and bastardized by Communists such as in The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and The People’s Republic of China and California Republic.

[SubMareener]

And we should all pause for a moment to morn the passing of the use of the possessive case as the object of a gerund. ..... My having said that, now back to using adjectives as adverbs.

[Texas Eagle]

Forget words like “decimate”. I know some people who have trouble with words like “is”.

[RightGeek]

[Fiji Hill]

I am also annoyed when I hear “apocalypse” used to describe a calamity or disaster when the word actually means a disclosure.

[Texas Eagle]

I want a thread on the proper uses of an apostrophe.

[gundog]

Disirregardless...

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

I decimate my enemy by decapitating 1/10 of his body. Any questions?

[outofsalt]

The Oxford comma is a critical piece of punctuation;)

[BwanaNdege]

The same word can be used to symbolize several different concepts that are still somewhat similar in meaning.

You mean like "gay"?

[Moonman62]

"Insane" has a very specific legal meaning. Yet it is commonly used to refer to liberals of all stripes.

Good one.

Words change and expand their meaning by metaphor. To use "decimate" to describe a mass annihilation is perfectly acceptable, and has been for decades.

I think "decimate" sounds like it should mean mass annihilation.

[yarddog]

Another word which has been misused so often that it is now more common tha the correct way and so is probably OK.

That word is forte’. If used as a musical description, it is pronounced for-tay. If used as your strong point it is pronounced fort.

If you pronounce it fort now, people will correct you.

[GreenHornet]

This might be a good candidate for Jeff Foxworthy’s “Redneck Dictionary”: “Decimate the third time Bubba’s been arrested for drunk driving.”

[seowulf]

I always prefer to obliterate anyway.

“To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of their women.”

[oldbill]

http://www.texasescapes.com/MurrayMontgomeryLoneStarDiary/Recollections-of-a-Mier-Expedition-Survivor.htm

[Responsibility2nd]

We no longer think of sinister as meaning “on the left side,”

—————————-

This explains the true nature of leftist Democrats.

[Fightin Whitey]

I can see this post is going to be filled with replies from FReepers who didn’t read past the headline

Could be that nine of ten freepers find your posts dull, predictable and peevish.

[dynachrome]

“I was decimated when I heard that Epstein did not kill himself.”

;)