Shot at endeavor 5 checkride failures. - Page 8

#71

PotatoChip , 07-14-2018 09:30 PM

Layover Master

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnBurke

One tenth of you was removed, or you were cut into ten pieces?.

If you’re going to be a pompous a—, at least own a dictionary.

#72

JohnBurke , 07-14-2018 09:51 PM

Disinterested Third Party

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/decimate

Quote:
Definition of decimate

decimated; decimating

transitive verb

1 : to select by lot and kill every tenth man of decimate a regiment

2 : to exact a tax of 10 percent from
poor as a decimated Cavalier —John Dryden

3 a : to reduce drastically especially in number
cholera decimated the population
Kamieniecki's return comes at a crucial time for a pitching staff that has been decimated by injuries. —Jason Diamos

b : to cause great destruction or harm to
firebombs decimated the city an industry decimated by recession

#73

USMCFLYR , 07-15-2018 04:56 AM

Gets Weekends Off

So 3.b. fits fine with the troll's usage.

Plus - maybe he really is English:

https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/decimate

Usage

Quote:
Historically, the meaning of the word decimate is ‘kill one in every ten of (a group of people)’. This sense has been more or less totally superseded by the later, more general sense ‘kill, destroy, or remove a large proportion of’, as in the virus has decimated the population. Some traditionalists argue that this is incorrect, but it is clear that it is now part of standard English

I guess JB can be counted on as a traditionalist in this sense.

#74

JohnBurke , 07-15-2018 07:57 AM

Disinterested Third Party

The root of the word is deci, which is tenth. The Romans motivated their troops by decimation; desertion and some failures in battle were handled by killing every tenth man; decimation. It quite literally means "removal of a tenth."

Usage of the phrase "I was decimated" is slang and poor grammar (unless one intends to suggest that one tenth of himself was harmed or killed off, or that he was divided into tenths), generally marking the user as one who doesn't know the meaning of the world. Also those who would call for the dictionary meaning of the word.

A more correct term may have been "I was devastated," though it is more melodrama than anything.

#75

USMCFLYR , 07-15-2018 08:11 AM

Gets Weekends Off

It is common usage today.

Devastated might have been a better choice, but it is not wrong.

Doesn’t matter - it didn’t happen in any case.

#76

tomgoodman , 07-15-2018 08:24 AM

Gets Weekends Off

At least he wasn’t triggered. Nothing is worse than that.

#77

PotatoChip , 07-15-2018 08:47 AM

Layover Master

I have thoroughly enjoyed this.
Please, tell us more.

#78

dera , 07-15-2018 02:00 PM

In a land of unicorns

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnBurke

generally marking the user as one who doesn't know the meaning of the world.

"Doesn't know the meaning of the world".
Keep playing.

#79

vagabond , 07-15-2018 04:51 PM

Administrator

This thread is ..... toast.

I was about to use the F word, but then I would have to give myself an infraction.

I'll let JB have one last word.

#80

JohnBurke , 07-15-2018 05:47 PM

Disinterested Third Party

Quote:

Originally Posted by vagabond

I'll let JB have one last word.

No thanks.