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Origin and history of surface

surface(n.)

1610s, "the bounding or limiting parts of a body," from French surface "an outermost boundary, outside part" (16c.), from Old French sur- "above" (see sur-) + face (see face (n.)). The French words is patterned on Latin superficies "surface, upper side, top" (see superficial).

The figurative sense of "outward or external appearance" is by 1725. As an adjective from 1660s, "of or pertaining to the surface;" hence figuratively, "superficial" (1828). The surface tension of a liquid is so called by 1876. Surface-to-air, of missile weapons, is by 1950.

also from 1610s

surface(v.)

1898, "come to the surface," from surface (n.). Earlier it meant "bring to the surface" (1885), and "put a surface (of a particular kind) on," especially "give something a polished or finished surface" (1778). Related: Surfaced; surfacing.

also from 1898

Entries linking to surface

face(n.)

c. 1300, "the human face, a face; facial appearance or expression; likeness, image," from Old French face "face, countenance, look, appearance" (12c.), from Vulgar Latin *facia (source also of Italian faccia), from Latin facies "appearance, form, figure," and secondarily "visage, countenance," which probably is literally "form imposed on something" and related to facere "to make" (from PIE root *dhe- "to set, put").

Replaced Old English andwlita "face, countenance" (from root of wlitan "to see, look") and ansyn, ansien, the usual word (from the root of seon "see"). Words for "face" in Indo-European commonly are based on the notion of "appearance, look," and are mostly derivatives from verbs for "to see, look" (as with the Old English words, Greek prosopon, literally "toward-look," Lithuanian veidas, from root *weid- "to see," etc.). But in some cases, as here, the word for "face" means "form, shape." In French, the use of face for "front of the head" was given up 17c. and replaced by visage (older vis), from Latin visus "sight."

From late 14c. as "outward appearance (as contrasted to some other reality);" also from late 14c. as "forward part or front of anything;" also "surface (of the earth or sea), extent (of a city)." Typographical sense of "part of the type which forms the letter" is from 1680s.

Whan she cometh hoom, she raumpeth in my face And crieth 'false coward.' [Chaucer, "Monk's Tale"]

Face to face is from mid-14c. Face time is attested from 1990. To lose face "lose prestige" (1835), is from Chinese tu lien; hence also save face (1898; see save). To show (one's) face "make or put in an appearance" is from mid-14c. (shewen the face). To make a face "change the appearance of the face in disgust, mockery, etc." is from 1560s. Two faces under one hood as a figure of duplicity is attested from mid-15c.

Two fases in a hode is neuer to tryst. ["Awake lordes," 1460]

superficial(adj.)

late 14c., in anatomy, "on or at the surface of the skin, external, not deep-seated," from Old French superficial, superficiel and directly from Late Latin superficialis "of or pertaining to a surface," from superficies "surface, upper side, top," from super "above, over" (see super-) + facies "form, face" (see face (n.); also compare surface (n.)).

The meaning "without thorough understanding, cursory, comprehending only what is apparent or obvious" (of perceptions, thoughts, etc.) is attested from early 15c. (implied in superficially "not thoroughly") on the notion of not concerned with or penetrating below the surface.

As a noun, Middle English had superficie "an outer service or exterior" (late 14c. in geometry, early 15c. in anatomy), also superfice, used by Chaucer, rare after c. 1700 but geometry has kept superfices.