Etymology Map
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Surface

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means the outside part of something

Where does the word "surface" come from? It comes from Latin superficies, passing through French before entering English (1610s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
superficies
Latin · ancient
"upper face"
'super', above, plus 'facies', face
2
Stage 2 of 3
surface
French · 1500s
"surface"
formed from 'sur' plus 'face'
3
Stage 3 of 3
surface
English · 1610s
"outside"
'surface' as a verb dates from the 1800s
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Read the full story

Surface’s story begins in Latin: superficies meant “upper face.” 'super', above, plus 'facies', face. By 1500s, the word had taken hold in French as surface. Formed from 'sur' plus 'face'. It reached English by 1610s as surface. 'surface' as a verb dates from the 1800s. Today, surface means the outside part of something.