obliteration
UK[əˌblɪtəˈreɪʃn]US[əˌblɪtəˈreɪʃn]
n
the act of destroying something completely so that nothing remains
n
the act of making an idea, feeling, or memory disappear completely
Morpheme Breakdown
ob
liter
ation
ob
against, completely
liter
letter
ation
noun suffix
Etymology
the word "obliteration" originates from the latin verb obliterare, meaning "to cause to be forgotten, to blot out". this verb itself was formed from ob- (here intensifying to mean "completely") and littera (a letter of the alphabet). the literal sense was "to blot out letters" on a writing tablet, effectively erasing a written record. over time, the meaning broadened from the specific act of erasing text to the general concept of total destruction or effacement, whether physical or metaphorical, carrying the logic of wiping something out as thoroughly as one would erase written words.
Analysis
Structure: ob (against, completely) + liter (letter) + ation (noun suffix)
ob- is a latin prefix meaning "against, toward, completely". liter- is from latin littera meaning "letter". -ation is a latin-derived noun-forming suffix indicating an action or process.
Examples
the aerial bombardment resulted in the near-total obliteration of the city.
he sought the obliteration of all memory of his former failures.
the disease can cause the obliteration of small blood vessels.