efface

What does “efface” mean?

verb.to erase (a mark) from a surface.

SAT Usage

this verb often appears in contexts related to historical accounts, literature, or discussions of memory and identity. It emphasizes the notion of deliberate removal or obliteration, suggesting a deeper significance in the act of erasing, such as the loss of history or personal connections, unlike similar words like "remove," which do not carry the same connotation of intentionality or permanence.

Common Confusions

Efface implies a deliberate act of erasing or obliterating, while remove usually suggests simply taking something away without the same depth of intentionality or permanence.

Example Sentences

• Do not efface what I've written on the chalkboard.

• Some people like to efface their own memories with alcohol.

• Many people seem shy, but they really just efface for meekness.

• Some females efface 75% by the 39th week of pregnancy.

• Time can efface the writing on the stone.

Word Parts: How to Remember “efface”

Break “efface” into its parts: ex- (out of, from). Knowing roots like these helps you decode unfamiliar SAT vocabulary.

• Prefix: ex- out of, from (Latin)