Obliviate

Origin

Late 14th century, "state or fact of forgetting," from (13th century) and directly from , from oblīvīscī ("forget"), originally "even out, smooth over, efface," from ob- ("over") + root of lēvis ("smooth"), from , from root *(s)lei- ("slime, slimy, sticky") (see slime).

Meaning "state of being forgotten" is early 15th century.

Full definition of obliviate

Verb

1. (transitive) To forget; to wipe from existence.
• 1811, George GrennellTime has not yet obliviated the veneration of our jacobins for France, while she was seething with faction and blood ...

Related terms

• oblivion