obliterate
/əˈblɪtəreɪt/
verb
Origin
Latin
obliteratus — erased, struck out
Overview
Meaning Now
- To destroy utterly; wipe out.
- To remove or erase completely from existence or memory.
Literal older meaning
to strike against letters (obliterare)
Language path
Latin → English
Earliest form
obliterate
Earliest period
16th century
Journey
The word stems from the Roman practice of using wax tablets for writing. To 'obliterate' literally meant to rub out or strike through letters on the wax surface, rendering the original writing illegible.
Evolution
- Latin
ob- (against) + littera (letter)
“to blot out, efface”
- Middle English/Early Modern English
obliterate
“to erase, to cross out”
Introduced in the 16th century via Latin influence.
Connections
Word parts
ob-
prefix
against, over
littera
root
letter
-ate
suffix
verbal suffix
Related across languages
French
oblitérer
to obliterate
Spanish
obliterar
to obliterate
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External references use DefinedTerm semantics.