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Webster 1913 Edition

Obliterate

Ob-lit′er-ate

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Obliterated
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Obliterating
.]
[L.
obliteratus
, p. p. of
obliterare
to obliterate;
ob
(see
Ob-
) +
litera
,
littera
, letter. See
Letter
.]
1.
To erase or blot out; to efface; to render undecipherable, as a writing.
2.
To wear out; to remove or destroy utterly by any means; to render imperceptible;
as, to
obliterate
ideas; to
obliterate
the monuments of antiquity
.
The harsh and bitter feelings of this or that experience are slowly
obliterated
.
W. Black.

Ob-lit′er-ate

,
Adj.
(Zool.)
Scarcely distinct; – applied to the markings of insects.

Webster 1828 Edition

Obliterate

OBLIT'ERATE

,
Verb.
T.
[L. oblitero; ob and litera, letter.]
1.
To efface; to erase or blot out any thing written; or to efface any thing engraved. A writing may be obliterated by erasure, by blotting, or by the slow operation of time or natural causes.
2.
To efface; to wear out; to destroy by time or other means; as, to obliterate ideas or impressions; to obliterate the monuments of antiquity; to obliterate reproach.
3.
To reduce to a very low or imperceptible state.
The torpor of the vascular system and obliterated pulse.

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