Crossword Genius

Faulty dice matched having lost every tenth (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

decimated

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'lost every tenth' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are past participle verbs, I can't understand how they can define each other.

'faulty dice matched' is the wordplay.
'faulty' indicates an anagram.
'matched' becomes 'mated' (associated in meaning).
'dice' with letters rearranged gives 'deci'.
'deci'+'mated'='DECIMATED'

'having' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for decimated that I've seen before include "Reduced by 10%" , "reduced in number" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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