Efface Definition

ĭ-fās
effaced, effaces, effacing
verb
effaced, effaces, effacing
To rub out, as from a surface; erase; wipe out; obliterate.
Time effaced the memory.
Webster's New World
To remove or make indistinct.
American Heritage
To make (oneself) inconspicuous; withdraw (oneself) from notice.
Webster's New World
To become shorter, softer, and thinner during labor: said of the cervix.
Webster's New World
To cause to become shorter, softer, and thinner during labor.
The cervix was effaced as the contractions continued.
American Heritage
noun
A position in ballet in which the dancer stands at an angle to the audience so that part of the body is hidden from view.
American Heritage

Origin of Efface

  • Middle English effacen from French effacer from Old French esfacier es- out (from Latin ex- ex-) face face face

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From Middle French effacer (“erase”), from Old French esfacier (“remove the face”).

    From Wiktionary

  • French from past participle of effacer to efface efface

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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