Oblitterate

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To wipe out something so thoroughly that nothing remains of it ; to remove or erase writing, marks or a record so that it can no longer be seen or read
2. To annihilate something completely until no sign of it survives ; to blot out or delete a written or recorded mark so it cannot be made out
3. Utterly to destroy or efface a thing so that not a trace is left ; to cancel or scrub away an inscription or record until it is illegible

Etymology: Oblitterate begins with letters, not destruction. It comes from the Latin verb "oblitterare," formed from "ob," meaning over or against, and "littera," meaning letter. To oblitterate was originally to cover over writing until it could no longer be read. Its sense later broadened to erasing or destroying anything completely. The same root "littera" gives English "literate" and "illiterate," so "illiterate" and "oblitterate" are relatives despite their different meanings. The double t in the spelling follows the Latin verb, while the single-t form "obliterate" is now the more common spelling. Both are accepted.