obliterate

From Latin oblitterātus, perfect passive participle of oblitterō (“blot out”), from oblinō (“smear over”).

• IPA^(key): /əbˈlɪtəɹeɪt/

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obliterate (third-person singular simple present obliterates, present participle obliterating, simple past and past participle obliterated)

1. To remove completely, leaving no trace; to wipe out; to destroy.
   • (Can we date this quote?) William Black

     The harsh and bitter feelings of this or that experience are slowly obliterated.

   • 1907, Robert William Chambers, chapter VIII, in The Younger Set, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, OCLC 24962326:

     Elbows almost touching they leaned at ease, idly reading the almost obliterated lines engraved there. ¶ "I never understood it," she observed, lightly scornful. "What occult meaning has a sun-dial for the spooney? I'm sure I don't want to read riddles in a strange gentleman's optics."

• See also Thesaurus:destroy

obliterate

1. second-person plural present indicative of obliterare
2. second-person plural imperative of obliterare
3. feminine plural of obliterato

obliterāte

1. second-person plural present active imperative of obliterō