dĕcĭmo or dĕcŭmo, āvi, ātum, 1, v. a. [decimus].
I To select by lot every tenth man for punishment, to decimate (postAug., although the practice itself occurs as early as 283 A. U. C.; v. Liv. 2, 59 fin. ), Suet. Galb. 12: cohortes, id. Aug. 24: cohortium militem, Front. Strat. 4, 1, 37 al.— Absol. , Suet. Calig. 48.—
II To cause to pay tithes, to collect tithes from a person. — Pass. : et Levi decimatus est, Vulg. Hebr. 7, 9.—
III To select the tenth part as an offering, to pay tithes of anything, Fest. p. 237, 25 Müll.; Vulg. Matth. 23, 23.
IV —Hence, dĕcŭmātus , a, um, P. a., selected, excellent, choice : honestas, Symm. Ep. 3, 49 and 51.— Sup. : juvenis, id. ib. 8, 16.