Quote:
Originally Posted by HarryT
Of course. If 1 in 10 people were to die (which is what being "decimated" means), why wouldn't the remaining 90% survive?
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rblover
Of course mankind will survive being decimated. To decimate is to kill 10%...which leaves 90% still alive. The big doomsday will kill 90% in the event, and the rest in the aftermath....no survivors.
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Let's not confuse etymology and contemporary meaning. The
origin of the word decimate is a latin word that meant take one person in 10 (for instance of a rebellious army) and kill them as an example. Since then, the meaning of the word has evolved. Language changes.
According to Merriam-Webster, decimate also means "to reduce drastically especially in number", or "to cause great destruction or harm to", which has no precise number attached but would certainly mean more than 10%.