superficies Latin · revision 7454

16 Oct 2026, 13:53 by bogdan “New Latin entry (sources: de Vaan, OLD, Lewis & Short, TLL...)” current version
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+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=Varro|origins=la super, la faciēs}}
+ 
+ ==Pronunciation==
+ * IPA (Classical): [sʊ.pɛrˈfɪ.ki.eːs]^(Wiktionary)
+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [su.perˈfiː.t͡ʃi.es]^(Wiktionary)
+ 
+ ==Forms==
+ '''superficiēs''' ''f'' (genitive superficiēī); fifth declension^(Wiktionary)
+ 
+ ==Etymology==
+ It is from [[super-]] “above” and [[faciēs]] “form, shape”, the vowel change probably influenced by [[-fex]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Köbler 2010) A neuter ⟨superficium⟩ is also found in inscriptions and the jurists.^(OLD 2012)
+ 
+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==
+ The OLD's earliest citation is from Varro, of the top of plants.^(OLD 2012) Köbler's first source is Cicero; he dates Varro 116–27 BC and Cicero 81–43 BC.^(Köbler 2010)
+ 
+ ==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.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016) 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.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)
+ 
+ In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant a surface, top, external appearance.^(Stelten 1995) British Medieval Latin also used it of an area.^(DMLBS) French ''surface'', modelled on it, gave [[en|surface]] in the 1610s.^(Etymonline)
+ 
+ ==Timeline==
+ * 116–27 BC – Varro uses it of the top of plants.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a building on land.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * before 223 AD – Ulpian uses it of a building held on another's land.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * 1610s – English ''surface'', modelled on it through French, is recorded.^(Etymonline)
+ 
+ ==Meanings==
+ ===Noun===
+ # The top, upper part; the [[m|en|surface]].^(OLD 2012)
+ # A building as distinct from its land.^(OLD 2012)
+ # ''(law)'' A building held on land owned by another.^(OLD 2012)
+ 
+ ==Word family==
+ * [[superficiālis]]
+ * [[superficiārius]]
+ * [[superficium]]
+ 
+ ==Related words==
+ * [[faciēs]]
+ * [[en|surface]]
+ * [[en|superficial]]
+ 
+ ==References==
+ {{reflist}}