Main Entry:

de·face

Pronunciation:

\di-ˈfās, dē-\

Function:

transitive verb

Etymology:

Middle English, from Anglo-French *desfacer, *deffacer, from des- de- + face front, face

Date:

14th century

1: to mar the appearance of : injure by effacing significant details <deface an inscription>2: impair3obsolete : destroy

— de·face·ment \-ˈfās-mənt\ noun

— de·fac·er noun