De*face" (dē*fās"), v. t.
[imp. & p. p. Defaced (-fāst");
p. pr. & vb. n. Defacing.] [OE.
defacen to disfigure, efface, OF. desfacier; L. dis-
+ facies face. See Face, and cf. Efface.]
1. To destroy or mar the face or external
appearance of; to disfigure; to injure, spoil, or mar, by effacing or
obliterating important features or portions of; as, to deface
a monument; to deface an edifice; to deface writing; to
deface a note, deed, or bond; to deface a record.
"This high face defaced." Emerson.
So by false learning is good sense
defaced.
Pope.
2. [Cf. F. défaire.] To
destroy; to make null. [Obs.]
[Profane scoffing] doth . . . deface the
reverence of religion.
Bacon.
For all his power was utterly defaste
[defaced].
Spenser.
Syn. -- See Efface.