'obliterate' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'oblitterare' (or 'obliterare'), where 'ob-' meant 'against/toward' and 'littera' meant 'letter'.

'oblitterare' in Latin (Late Latin/Medieval Latin) passed into English as 'obliterate' (via scholarly and literary use) and developed into the modern English verb 'obliterate'.

Initially it meant 'to blot out letters' (i.e., to erase writing), but over time it evolved into the broader meaning 'to destroy or remove completely' as used in modern English.