Forgetting & Oblivion Vocabulary

the state of being unaware or unconscious; being forgotten

“Many artists die in oblivion, only to be rediscovered later.”

Origin: Latin oblivio `forgetfulness` from oblivisci `forget`

a partial or total loss of memory

“The trauma caused temporary amnesia.”

Origin: Greek amnēsia `forgetfulness` (a- `not` + mnēsis `memory`)

not aware of or not concerned about what is happening

“She was oblivious to the chaos around her.”

Origin: Latin obliviosus `forgetful` from oblivisci `forget`

lasting for a very short time

“Fame is ephemeral; only the work endures.”

Origin: Greek ephēmeros `lasting only a day` (epi- `upon` + hēmera `day`)

lasting for a very short time

“He caught only a fleeting glimpse of her face.”

Origin: Old English flēotan `float, swim` (related to fleet `swift`)

soon passing out of sight, memory, or existence

“The evanescent beauty of cherry blossoms symbolizes life's transience.”

Origin: Latin evanescere `vanish` (e- `out` + vanescere `disappear`)

to erase or remove; to make oneself appear insignificant

“Time has effaced the inscription on the gravestone.”

Origin: French effacer (ex- `out` + face `face, surface`)

to destroy utterly; wipe out

“The bombing obliterated all traces of the village.”

Origin: Latin oblitterare `erase` (ob- `against` + littera `letter`)

to erase or remove completely

“His criminal record was expunged after the pardon.”

Origin: Latin expungere `mark out for deletion` (ex- `out` + pungere `to prick`)

to deliver to a person's custody; to relegate

“The incident was consigned to the footnotes of history.”

Origin: Latin consignare `seal, register` (con- `together` + signare `to sign`)