obliteration
|o-blit-er-a-tion|
C1
/əˌblɪtəˈreɪʃən/
(obliterate)
complete destruction
Etymology
Etymology Information
'obliteration' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'oblitterare,' where 'ob-' meant 'against' and 'littera' meant 'letter.'
Historical Evolution
'oblitterare' transformed into the French word 'obliterer,' and eventually became the modern English word 'obliterate' through Middle English.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'to erase or blot out writing,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'complete destruction or erasure.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the act of completely destroying or erasing something.
The obliteration of the ancient city was a tragic loss to history.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:35