Emily Dickinson Lexicon

EF-FACE, v.t. [Fr. effacer, from the L. ex and facio or facies.]

1. To destroy a figure on the surface of any thing, whether painted or carved, so as to render it invisible or not distinguishable; as, to efface the letters on a monument.
2. To blot out; to erase, strike or scratch out, so as to destroy or render illegible; as, to efface a writing; to efface a name.
3. To destroy any impression on the mind; to wear away; as, to efface the image of a person in the mind; to efface ideas or thoughts; to efface gratitude. Dryden. To deface is to injure or impair a figure; to efface is to rub out or destroy, so as to render invisible.