4 ms·
"to kill, destroy, or remove large parts of" is the modern usage. the usage is hyperbolic; it is not nonsensical.
by hprotagonist 6y ago
"to kill, destroy, or remove large parts of" is the modern usage.
the usage is hyperbolic; it is not nonsensical.
- selectodude 6y agoI know it's hyperbolic, I just consider it on the same tier as "x person DESTROYS y person".
- ineedasername 6y agoNot quite as bad as "that is LITERALLY the worst thing ever"
- peteretep 6y agoEnglish obscures it a little, but note that verbs in your sentence apply to "large parts of"; differently stated: "to destroy a great number or proportion of". Decimate means quite specifically to remove or destroy a _portion_ of something, rather than simply to destroy something, even in most modern usage.