effacement

[ ih-feys-muhnt ]

/ ɪˈfeɪs mənt /

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Definition of effacement

noun

the act of wiping out, erasing, or doing away with something: The gradual effacement of ethnic differences has often been seen as a solution to the difficulties experienced by immigrants.

the act or habit of humbly keeping oneself in the background; self-effacement: There's nothing showy about the way this author writes; a sort of vast humility and effacement echoes through the whole book.

Medicine/Medical. the thinning of bodily tissue, especially of the cervix to prepare for childbirth: Cervical effacement is usually nearly complete before the first phase of labor.

QUIZ

SHALL WE PLAY A "SHALL" VS. "SHOULD" CHALLENGE?

Should you take this quiz on “shall” versus “should”? It should prove to be a quick challenge!

Question 1 of 6

Which form is used to state an obligation or duty someone has?

shall

should

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Origin of effacement

efface + -ment

Words nearby effacement

Efate, efavirenz, eff, effable, efface, effacement, effect, effective, effective conjugate, effective current, effective dose

How to use effacement in a sentence

It is no wonder he could not find the balance between self-effacement and self-promotion.
Sometimes Memoirs, Especially by Our Own Kin, Tell Us More Than They Intend|Louisa Thomas|June 16, 2011|DAILY BEAST
"I'm just a hack," he says, sincerely, although I believe his self-effacement doubles as a cover.
Knowing Bill Cunningham|Philip Gefter|March 22, 2010|DAILY BEAST
This will require patience and self-effacement from a man accustomed to dominating the economic-policy discussion.
Bernanke Vs. Summers?|Jeff Madrick|August 26, 2009|DAILY BEAST
Owing to her consummate genius for self-effacement, Brodrick remained peculiarly unaware.
The Creators|May Sinclair

On the background of Jane's silence and effacement nothing stood out except Gertrude Collett.
The Creators|May Sinclair
She had produced the effect of shrinking from observation under some subtle shadow of self-effacement.
The Butterfly House|Mary E. Wilkins Freeman
The agency of their effacement was an endemic disorder known as yellow fever.
The Collected Works of Ambrose Bierce|Ambrose Bierce
Somehow, their self-effacement in his behalf touched him more keenly than anything else had done during this troubled period.
The Pillar of Light|Louis Tracy