The World of Words: Vocabulary for College Success ... - eLibrary

280 Chapter 9 Word Elements: Numbers and MeasuresNumber BasesAs you may know, our number system is constructed using the base ten, as seenin such words as decade and decimal. The use of ten as a base is thought tocome from our ten fingers, which the ancients, like us, used for counting. Butother bases have been employed. There is evidence for a duodecimal system, orbase twelve. The word is constructed from duo (two) and dec (ten). Note thatthere are twelve months in a year. The Sumerians used base sixty, and perhapsthis influenced the sixty minutes in our hour. Most computer systems are programmedwith a base two binary system, with its two values of “on” and “off.”12. decimate (verb) dĕsə-mātFrom Latin: dec- (ten) (Decimāre meant “to take the tenth.” Thiswas the severe practice of killing every tenth soldier, chosen bylot, in order to punish a mutiny.)to destroy or kill a large part ofHailstones decimated the farmer’s crop.Severe governmental budget cuts will decimate supportprograms for disabled adults. Related Worddecimation (noun) Loss of land for grazing and overhuntingresulted in the decimation of the American bison population.ExercisesPart 1■ DefinitionsMatch the word and definition. Use each choice only once.1. decade a. deceit2. unilateral b. three books, plays, or movies3. trivial c. ten-year period4. duplicity d. speaking two languages5. decimate e. supported by both sides6. monarchy f. a state ruled by a king or queen7. bilingual g. complete agreement8. dilemma h. arbitraryCopyright © Cengage Learning. All Right Reserved.