! DECIMATE
Apr. 1st, 2009 01:06 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
Okay people. Please help me with this one. Even PBS's NOVA is wrong on it, and it's worrying me.
Decimate == REDUCE by ONE TENTH. To decimate something is to destroy ten percent of it.
People CONSTANTLY misuse this word. They should be using the word "devastate" instead.
DEVASTATE, not decimate.
You may now return to your previously scheduled program.
Decimate == REDUCE by ONE TENTH. To decimate something is to destroy ten percent of it.
People CONSTANTLY misuse this word. They should be using the word "devastate" instead.
DEVASTATE, not decimate.
You may now return to your previously scheduled program.
no subject
on 2009-04-01 06:11 pm (UTC)I shall correct it in my brain and try to use it only in appropriate situations.
I shall correct it in my brain and try to use it only in appropriate situations.
<insert 'the more you know' star here>
:)
no subject
on 2009-04-01 06:45 pm (UTC)no subject
on 2009-04-01 08:04 pm (UTC)