- Today's Word
Efface
[ih-FACE]
Definition
- (verb) To erase, eliminate, or make oneself inconspicuous. In personal behavior, it often refers to the act of making oneself deliberately unobtrusive or keeping a low profile. When referring to physical objects, it means to rub out, wipe away, or remove traces of something.
Example
The shy artist tended to efface herself at gallery openings, preferring to observe from corners while others discussed her work.
Fun Fact
“Efface” comes from the French “effacer,” which combines “ex-” (meaning “out”) and “face” (meaning “face” or “appearance”). The word gained particular significance during the Renaissance period when artists would often efface their earlier work to reuse expensive canvases or wall space for new paintings. Modern art historians have discovered numerous hidden paintings beneath famous works using X-ray technology, revealing how common this practice was. Interestingly, in Buddhist philosophy, the concept of self-effacement is considered a virtue, representing the elimination of ego and worldly attachment. The word has also taken on importance in digital age discussions about privacy and “the right to be forgotten,” where individuals seek to efface their digital footprint from the internet. This shows how an ancient word has found new relevance in contemporary debates about identity and privacy.
(adjective) Vigorous and effective; expressed with a sharpness and directness that cuts to the heart of the matter.
The reviewer’s trenchant analysis dismantled the argument so efficiently that by the end there was nothing left to disagree with — only the wreckage to survey.