Obliterate (pronounced uh-blit-uh-reyt
(U) or oh-blit-uh-reyt (non-U))
(1) To remove or destroy all traces of something; do away
with; destroy completely.
(2) In printing or graphic design, to blot out or render
undecipherable (writing, marks, etc.); fully to efface.
(3) In medicine, to remove an organ or another body part
completely, as by surgery, disease, or radiation.
1590–1600: From the Latin oblitterātus, perfect passive participle of oblitterō (blot out), from oblinō
(smear over) and past participle of oblitterāre
(to efface; cause to disappear, blot out (a writing) & (figuratively) cause
to be forgotten, blot out a remembrance), the construct being ob- (a prefixation of the preposition ob (in the sense of “towards; against”))
+ litter(a) (also litera) (letter;
script) + -ātus (-ate). The suffix -ate was a word-forming element
used in forming nouns from Latin words ending in -ātus, -āta, & -ātum (such
as estate, primate & senate). Those
that came to English via French often began with -at, but an -e was added in
the fifteenth century or later to indicate the long vowel. It can also mark adjectives formed from Latin
perfect passive participle suffixes of first conjugation verbs -ātus, -āta, & -ātum (such as desolate, moderate & separate). Again, often they were adopted in Middle
English with an –at suffix, the -e appended after circa 1400; a doublet of –ee.
The verb obliterate was abstracted from the phrase literas scribere (write across letters,
strike out letters). The noun obliteration
(act of obliterating or effacing, a blotting out or wearing out, fact of being
obliterated, extinction) dates from the 1650s, from the Late Latin obliterationem (nominative obliteratio), the noun of action from the
past-participle stem of oblitterāre (to
efface; cause to disappear, blot out (a writing) & (figuratively) cause to
be forgotten, blot out a remembrance). The
related late fourteenth century noun oblivion (state or fact of forgetting,
forgetfulness, loss of memory) was from the thirteenth century Old French
oblivion and directly from the Latin oblivionem
(nominative oblivio) (forgetfulness;
a being forgotten) from oblivisci,
the past participle of oblitus (forget)
of uncertain origin. Oblivion is if
interest to etymologists because of speculation about a semantic shift from “to
be smooth” to “to forget”, the theory based on the construct being ob- (using
ob in the sense of “over”) + the root of lēvis
(smooth). For this there apparently exists
no documentary evidence either to prove or disprove the notion. The Latin lēvis
(rubbed smooth, ground down) was from the primitive Indo-European lehiu-, from the root (s)lei-
(slime, slimy, sticky).
Obliterate, obliterated & obliterating are verbs, obliterable
& obliterative are adjectives, obliterator & obliteration are nouns. True synonyms include black out, eliminate,
eradicate, delete, erase & expunge because to obliterate something is to
remove all traces. Other words often used
as synonyms don’t of necessity exactly convey that sense; they include exterminate,
annihilate, knock out, obscure, ravage, smash, wash out, wipe out, ax, cancel,
cover, cut & defeat.
Strictly speaking, “to obliterate something” means “to
remove or destroy all traces” which usually isn’t the case when explosives are
used, the result more a wide dispersal of whatever isn’t actually vaporized but
there’s something about the word which attracts those who blow-up stuff and
they seem often to prefer obliteration to terms which might be more
accurate. As long as the explosion is
sufficiently destructive, one can see their point and obliteration does memorably
convey the implications of blowing-up stuff.
The word clearly enchanted the US Forest Service which in 1995 issued their classic document Obliterating Animal Carcasses with
Explosives, helpfully including a step-by-step guide to the process. Given it’s probably not a matter about which
many have given much thought, the service explained obliterating large animal
carcasses was an important safety measure in wilderness recreation areas where the remains might attract bears, or near picnic areas where people obviously
wouldn’t want rotting flesh nearby. A
practical aspect also is that in many cases there is no way conveniently to move or
otherwise dispose of a large carcass (such as a horse or moose which can weigh in
excess of 500 KG (1100 lb) which might be found below a steep cut slope or
somewhere remote. So, where physical transportation
is not practical, the chemistry and physics of explosives are the obvious
alternative, the guide recommending fireline devices (specially developed coils
containing explosive powder), used also to clear combustible materials in the
path of a wildfire.
Interestingly, the guide notes there will be cases in
which the goal might not be obliteration.
In some ecosystems, what is most desirable is to disperse the carcass
locally into the small chunks suited to the eating habits of predators in the area
and when properly dispersed, smaller scavenging animals will break down the
left-overs, usually within a week.
To
effect a satisfactory dispersal, the guide recommends placing 20 lb (9 KG) of explosives on the carcass in key locations, then using a detonator cord to
tie the charges together, the idea being to locate them on the major bones, along
the spine.
However, in areas where there’s
much human traffic, obliteration is required and the guide recommends placing
20 lb (9-KG) pounds of explosives on top and a similar load underneath although
it’s noted this may be impossible if the carcass is too heavy, frozen into the
ground, floating in water or simply smells too ghastly for anyone to linger
long enough to do the job.
In that case,
55 lb (25 KG) of fireline should be draped over the remains although the actual
amount used will depend on the size of the carcass, the general principle being
the more explosives used, the greater the chance obliteration will be achieved.
Dispersal and obliteration are obviously violent
business but it’s really just an acceleration of nature’s decomposition process.
Whereas a big beast like a horse can sit for
months without entirely degrading, if explosives are used, in most cases after
little more than a week it’d not be obvious an animal was ever there.
With regard to horses however, the guide does
include the warning that prior to detonation, “
horseshoes should be removed to minimize dangerous flying debris.” Who knew?
It’s important enough explosives are used to achieve the
desired result but in carcass disposal it's important also not to use too
much. In November 1970, the Oregon
Highway Division was tasked with blowing up a 45-foot (14 m) eight-ton (8100
KG) decaying whale which lay on the shores near the town of Florence and they calculated
it would need a half-ton (510 KG) of dynamite, the presumption being any small
pieces would be left for seagulls and other scavengers. Unfortunately, things didn’t go according to
plan. The viewing crowds had been kept a
quarter-mile (400 m) from the blast-site but they were forced to run for cover
as large chunks of whale blubber started falling on them and the roof of a car
parked even further away was crushed.
Fortunately there were no injuries although most in the area were
splattered with small pieces of dead whale.
Fifty years on, Florence residents voted to name a new recreation ground
Exploding Whale Memorial Park in
honor of the event.
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