n. 1. The condition or quality of being completely forgotten: "He knows that everything he writes is consigned to posterity (oblivion's other, seemingly more benign, face)" (Joyce Carol Oates). 2. The act or an instance of forgetting; total forgetfulness: sought the great oblivion of sleep. 3. Archaic Official overlooking of offenses; amnesty. [Middle English, from Old French, from Latin oblīviō, oblīviōn-, from oblīvīscī, to forget; see lei- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] |
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