Wordwyrt

superficial

/ˌsuːpəˈfɪʃəl/soo-pur-FIH-shuhl
/ˌsupɚˈfɪʃəl/soo-pur-FIH-shuhl

Meaningof the surface

Common meaning: on the surface only

‘over, above’ + ‘shape, look’ → superficial

Sources & notes

Meaning: “Meaning” is the sense that emerges from the word’s roots; “Common meaning” is today’s everyday sense. Both written by us.

Pronunciation

  • UK IPA: converted from the US form by rule (unchecked). Respelling: generated.
  • No UK recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-GB voice.
  • US IPA: CMUdict (BSD-2), converted to IPA by rule. Respelling: generated.
  • No US recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-US voice.

Origin: Built on Latin faciēs ‘shape, look; the face’.

Did you know: our wording, based on Lewis & Short, Latin Dictionary (1879), entry faciēs, p. 714 · dictionary scan

Roots

  • faciēs Latin “shape, look; the face”

Related words

facadefacefacetsurface

Building blocks are an automatic split · open in app