oblivion English · revision 1196

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /əˈblɪviːən/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It comes from Middle English ''oblivioun'',^(AHD)^(Etymonline) [[der|fro|oblivion]]^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) and [[der|la|oblivio|t=forgetfulness]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) from ''oblīvīscī'' “to forget”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) perhaps originally “to smooth over”, [[af|la|ob-|levis|t1=over|t2=smooth]].^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) Etymonline notes that de Vaan finds this shift of meaning unconvincing, though no better explanation has been found.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The state of forgetting; forgetfulness (1390; before 1393 in Barnhart).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The state of being forgotten is recorded from about 1425.^(OED 1989) From 1612 the word also meant an intentional overlooking of offences, as in an ''Act of Oblivion'' granting a general pardon.^(OED 1989)^(AHD)^(RHWU) In modern use it also suggests unconsciousness or utter extinction.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1390 – forgetfulness.^(OED 1989)

+ * about 1425 – the state of being forgotten.^(OED 1989)

+ * about 1450 – ''oblivious''.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1612 – official pardon for offences.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The state of being completely forgotten or unknown.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # The act of forgetting; total forgetfulness or unawareness, as in sleep.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Official overlooking of offences; [[amnesty]].^(AHD)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[oblivious]]

+ * [[oubliette]]

+ * [[obliterate]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}