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Deface

 - 4 dictionary results

de⋅face

  [di-feys]
Use Deface in a Sentence
–verb (used with object), -faced, -fac⋅ing.
1. to mar the surface or appearance of; disfigure: to deface a wall by writing on it.
2. to efface, obliterate, or injure the surface of, as to make illegible or invalid: to deface a bond.
Origin:
1275–1325; ME defacen < OF desfacier, equiv. to des- dis- 1 + facier (face face + -ier inf. suffix)

Related forms:
de⋅face⋅a⋅ble, adjective
de⋅face⋅ment, noun
de⋅fac⋅er, noun

Synonyms:
1. spoil. See mar.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To Deface
de·face   (dĭ-fās')   
tr.v.   de·faced, de·fac·ing, de·fac·es

  1. To mar or spoil the appearance or surface of; disfigure.

  2. To impair the usefulness, value, or influence of.

  3. Obsolete To obliterate; destroy.


[Middle English defacen, from Old French desfacier : des-, de- + face, face; see face.]
de·face'a·ble adj., de·face'ment n., de·fac'er n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

deface 
c.1325, from O.Fr. defacier, from des- "away from" + face "face."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: de·face
Pronunciation: di-'fAs
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Forms: de·faced; de·fac·ing
: to destroy or mar the face or surface of —de·face·ment noun —de·fac·er noun
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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