Etymology Map
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Survey

3 stages from Medieval Latin to English.

Today it means to look carefully at; a general view

Where does the word "survey" come from? It comes from Medieval Latin supervidere, passing through Old French before entering English (1400s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
supervidere
Medieval Latin · medieval
"to oversee"
'super', over, plus 'videre', to see
2
Stage 2 of 3
surveier
Old French · medieval
"to oversee"
the Domesday survey of 1086 recorded English landholdings
3
Stage 3 of 3
survey
English · 1400s
"to oversee"
opinion 'surveys' date from the 1900s
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Read the full story

Survey’s story begins in Medieval Latin: supervidere meant “to oversee.” 'super', over, plus 'videre', to see. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as surveier. The Domesday survey of 1086 recorded English landholdings. It reached English by 1400s as survey. Opinion 'surveys' date from the 1900s. Today, survey means to look carefully at; a general view.