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deface

[dih-feys]

verb (used with object), -faced, -fac·ing.

to mar the surface or appearance of; disfigure: to deface a wall by writing on it.

to efface, obliterate, or injure the surface of, as to make illegible or invalid: to deface a bond.

Origin:
1275–1325; Middle English defacen < Old French desfacier, equivalent to des- dis-¹ + facier (face face + -ier infinitive suffix)

Related forms

de·face·a·ble, adjective

de·face·ment, noun

de·fac·er, noun

un·de·face·a·ble, adjective

un·de·faced, adjective

Synonyms
1. spoil. See mar.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Deface is a GRE word you need to know.

So is debase. Does it mean:

going or coming down

to reduce in quality or value

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Example Sentences

But wrecking cars speaks to more than a simple urge to deface property or demand attention.

If it is too condemnatory, he fears somebody will deface it.

The graffiti looked as if the medium as well as the message was intended to deface and defy, not to beautify or persuade.

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Collins

World English Dictionary

deface (dɪˈfeɪs)

—vb
	(tr) to spoil or mar the surface, legibility, or appearance of; disfigure

de'faceable

—*adj*

de'facement

—n

de'facer

—n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline

Word Origin & History

deface

early 14c., from O.Fr. defacier, from des- "away from" + face "face."

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Matching Quote

"Dollars! All their cares, hopes, joys, affections, virtues, and associations seemed to be melted down into dollars. Whatever the chance contributions that fell into the slow cauldron of their talk, they made the gruel thick and slab with dollars. Men were weighed by their dollars, measures were gauged by their dollars; life was auctioneered, appraised, put up, and knocked down for its dollars. The next respectable thing to dollars was any venture having their attainment for its end. The more of that worthless ballast, honour and fair-dealing, which any man cast overboard from the ship of his Good Nature and Good Intent, the more ample stowage-room he had for dollars. Make commerce one huge lie and mighty theft. Deface the banner of the nation for an idle rag; pollute it star by star; and cut out stripe by stripe as from the arm of a degraded soldier. Do anything for dollars! What is a flag to them!"

-Charles Dickens

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