survey English · revision 3956

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1400|origins=la-med supervidēre}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: noun: UK /ˈsɜː.veɪ/, US /ˈsɝː.veɪ/; verb: UK /səˈveɪ/, US /sɚˈveɪ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|surveien]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) [[bor|xno|surveier]], Old French sorveoir “to look down at, look upon, notice; guard, watch”,^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from [[la-med|supervidēre|t=to oversee, inspect]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) from Latin super “over” and vidēre “to see”,^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from [[ine-pro|*weid-|t=to see]].^(Etymonline) The noun is from the verb.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) It is related to [[supervise]], [[view]] and [[surveyor]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ “To consider, contemplate”: about 1400 in Etymonline;^(Etymonline) Barnhart's first sense is “to examine in detail, appraise”.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ “To inspect or examine with reference to condition or value” is from the mid-15th century,^(Etymonline) 1467–8 in the OED.^(OED 1989) Measuring a tract of land is from the 1540s,^(Etymonline) 1550 in the OED and Barnhart.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) “To take a broad view of” is from the 1560s^(Etymonline) and “to look carefully into” from the 1590s.^(Etymonline) The noun first meant oversight or supervision (late 15th century),^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998) the act of viewing in detail from the 1540s,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) a comprehensive view from the 1560s,^(Etymonline) and the measuring of land from the 1610s.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) A poll of opinions is from 1927, and the verb in that sense by 1953.^(Etymonline) In Somerset, Devon and Cornwall a survey was an auction, especially of farms.^(Wright 1898)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1400 – to contemplate.^(Etymonline)

+ * mid-15th century – to inspect.^(Etymonline)

+ * late 15th century – noun, supervision.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1540s – to measure land; a detailed view.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1560s – a comprehensive view.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1927 – a poll.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1953 – verb, to poll.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To look at or examine comprehensively.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To inspect carefully; to [[scrutinize]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To determine the boundaries, area or elevations of land by measurement.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To question people in order to collect data or opinions; to [[poll]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A detailed inspection or investigation.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A general view or broad treatment of a subject: ''a survey of English literature''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # The measuring of land, or a map or description so made.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A gathering of opinions or data from a sample of people.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[surveyor]]

+ * [[surveyable]]

+ * [[presurvey]]

+ * [[resurvey]]

+ * [[unsurveyed]]

+ * [[surveying]]

+ * [[aerial survey]]

+ * [[geodetic survey]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[supervise]]

+ * [[view]]

+ * [[vision]]

+ * [[visit]]

+ * [[wit]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}