disfigure
[ dis-fig-yer; British dis-fig-er ]
/ dɪsˈfɪg yər; British dɪsˈfɪg ər /
verb (used with object), dis·fig·ured, dis·fig·ur·ing.
to mar the appearance or beauty of; deform; deface: Our old towns are increasingly disfigured by tasteless new buildings.
to mar the effect or excellence of: His reputation was disfigured by instances of political favoritism.
Nearby words
diseuse, disfavor, disfavour, disfeature, disfellowship, disfigure, disfigurement, disfluency, disforest, disfranchise, disfranchisement
Origin of disfigure
Related formsdis·fig·ur·er, nounun·dis·fig·ured, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for disfigure
British Dictionary definitions for disfigure
disfigure
/ (dɪsˈfɪɡə) /
verb (tr)
to spoil the appearance or shape of; deface
to mar the effect or quality of
Derived Formsdisfigurer, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for disfigure
disfigure
late 14c., from Old French desfigurer "disfigure, alter, disguise, destroy," from Medieval Latin diffigurare, from Latin dis- (see dis-) + figura "figure," from figurare "to figure" (see figure (n.)). Related: Disfigured; disfiguring.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper