obliterate

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   To destroy (someone or something) completely, leaving no trace

   To destroy (someone or something) completely, leaving no trace; to annihilate, to wipe out.

   • [H]e [Pope Gregory I] deſigned to obliterate and extinguiſh the memorie of Heathen antiquitie and Authors.
   • This opinion ſeemeth to me, to leave very little or no place for the Chriſtian Religion. For […] It obliterateth the notion of Gods Holineſs, vvhich to be no Holineſs, but a common or indifferent thing.
   • VVhen vve forget Things; either the Impreſſions are obliterated, or the Images diſſolved into their firſt Principles, or Exterminated from the Brain, vvith the Current of the Animal Spirits into the Nerves.
2. 2

   To hide (something) by covering it

   To hide (something) by covering it; to conceal, to obscure.

   • The rainclouds obliterated the sun as they swept across the sky.
   • Likevviſe the fragrancy of euery greene herbe yeeldeth ſuch a ſauour, as doth not a little obliterate and ouerſvvay the ſauour of the beaſt: […]
3. 3

   To make (a drawing, text which is printed or written, etc.) indecipherable, either by…

   To make (a drawing, text which is printed or written, etc.) indecipherable, either by erasing or obscuring it; to blot out, to efface, to delete.

   • [A]s one foule blot or daſh vvith a pen defaceth a vvhole vvriting, ſo one foule and enormous crime daſheth and obliterateth the faireſt copy of a vertuous life.
   • As vvhen a name lodg'd in the memory, / But yet through time almoſt obliterate, / Confuſely hovers near the phantaſie: / The man that's thus affected bids relate / A catologue of names.
4. ›+ 6 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      To impair the function and/or structure of (a body cavity, vessel, etc.) by ablating or…

      To impair the function and/or structure of (a body cavity, vessel, etc.) by ablating or occluding it (in the latter case, chiefly by filling it with tissue).

      • The pleural sac was obliterated by firm fibrous adhesions over the right upper lobe.
   2. 5

      To cancel (a postage stamp) with a postmark so it cannot be reused.

   3. 6

      To be destroyed completely, leaving no trace.

   4. 7

      Of a body cavity, vessel, etc.

      Of a body cavity, vessel, etc.: to close up or fill with tissue; of perfusion or a pulse: to cease owing to obstruction.

      • distal pulses obliterate until perfusion is restored
   5. 8

      Completely destroyed or erased

      Completely destroyed or erased; effaced, obliterated.

      • It may maintain a bright conjecture, againſt a ruſty Truth: a legible poſſeſſion, againſt an obliterate Claime: […]
      • And they being in a capacity to forget by reaſon of deſuetude, it vvill be a nevv pleaſure to them to recall to minde their almoſt obliterate ſpeculations.
   6. 9

      Of markings on an insect

      Of markings on an insect: difficult to distinguish from the background; faint, indistinct.

The neighborhood

• neighborobliteration
• neighborobliviate
• neighboroblivion