Etymologically
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superficies

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [sʊ.pɛrˈfɪ.ki.eːs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [su.perˈfiː.t͡ʃi.es][1]

Forms

superficiēs f (genitive superficiēī); fifth declension[1]

Etymology

It is from super- “above” and faciēs “form, shape”, the vowel change probably influenced by -fex.[2][1][3] A neuter ⟨superficium⟩ is also found in inscriptions and the jurists.[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Varro, of the top of plants.[2] Köbler's first source is Cicero; he dates Varro 116–27 BC and Cicero 81–43 BC.[3]

Semantic evolution

It meant the upper part of anything, the top, and the surface or upper layer, as Columella's surface of water and Pliny the Elder's upper shell of a tortoise.[2][4][5] In Cicero it meant a building as against the land it stands on, and in Ulpian a building or holding held on land owned by another.[2][5]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant a surface, top, external appearance.[6] British Medieval Latin also used it of an area.[7] French surface, modelled on it, gave English surface in the 1610s.[8]

Timeline

  • 116–27 BC – Varro uses it of the top of plants.[2][3]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a building on land.[2][3]
  • before 223 AD – Ulpian uses it of a building held on another's land.[2][3]
  • 1610s – English surface, modelled on it through French, is recorded.[8]

Meanings

Noun

  1. The top, upper part; the surface.[2]
  2. A building as distinct from its land.[2]
  3. (law) A building held on land owned by another.[2]

Word family

  • superficiālis
  • superficiārius
  • superficium

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  4. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  6. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  7. ^ Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
  8. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com