vicesimation

Meaning

Noun

• The destruction of one-twentieth of something; , the kill or putting to death of every twentieth person, by lot.

Origin

• Probably formed by the suffixation of the Latin vīcēsimus with the English -ation on the pattern of decimation, but compare the Latin vīcēsimātiō ("a killing of every twentieth man"); the spelling vigesimation is an alteration of vicesimation under the influence of vigesimal.