Origin and history of survey

c. 1400, surveien, "consider, contemplate," from Anglo-French surveier, Old French sorveoir "look (down) at, look upon, notice; guard, watch," from Medieval Latin supervidere "oversee, inspect," from Latin super "over" (see super-) + videre "to see" (from PIE root *weid- "to see"). Related: Surveyed; surveying; surveyance "supervision" (late 14c.).

The meaning "inspect or examine with reference to condition, value, etc." is from mid-15c. That of "to take linear measurements of a tract of ground" is recorded from 1540s. The sense of "take a broad view of" is from 1560s; that of "look carefully into" is from 1590s. The meaning "measure and record the beliefs, opinions, etc. of a certain group" is by 1953.

late 15c., survei, "oversight, supervision," from survey (v.).

The meaning "act of viewing in detail" is from 1540s. The different-tending sense of "act of looking at something from a general view, comprehensive prospect" is attested by 1560s, originally figurative. The "operation of finding and recording the particulars of some part of the earth's surface" is by 1610s. The meaning "poll, systematic collection of data on opinions, etc." is attested from 1927.