Middle English Dictionary Entry
superficiā̆l adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | superficiā̆l adj. Also superficial(l)e, -ciel(e & (error) susperficiale. |
| Etymology | L superficiālis & OF superficïal, superficïel. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) On or at the surface of the skin, body, a boiling liquid, etc.; external; also, as noun: an outer surface or part; (b) without thorough understanding, cursory; (c) unimportant, insignificant; (d) anat. of a suture or seam of the skull: smooth, not serrated; (e) math. of a number: composed of two different prime numbers multiplied together; also, geom. pertaining to a two-dimensional plane surface [quot. c1450, last occurrence].
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)62a/b : Be yt resolued, if it be possible as when þe materie is subtile or superficiale [Ch.(2): superficial, i. lienge wiþouteforth], with som of resolutyuez to be said.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)135b/a : Naturale defenes of whatsom euer cause outake of opilacioun susperficiale [read: superficiale; L superficiali] withoutforþ is not cured.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)164b/b : Also summe colde pure medicines leide to maturen bi accident repellinge þe superficiel hete inwarde apon þe mater þat schal be matured.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)11.416 : Whan thi must boyl, scome of the grape That wol rise & be superficial.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)34b/b : Þese ligamentis..ne touchen not þe herte in his sidis for þei schulden not lette þe stirynge of þe meuynge of his superficial parties.
- c1475 *Mondeville (Wel 564)160b/b : Sum wounde is superficial of þe whiche sum lippe or boþe lippis be reisid and be not faste or ellis þat þe superficial [*MS Htrn.95 97b/a: superficiele partie] of þe boon is departable or departid.
- c1500(?a1475) Ass.Gods (Trin-C R.3.19)538 : Sodeynly by weet constreynyd by duresse Was the ground to close hys superfyciall face So strayte that to scape Eolus had no space.
b
- (c1456) Pecock Faith (Trin-C B.14.45)116 : That the seid erring persoonys take longe leiser forto sadli and oft overrede tho bokis, unto tyme thei schulen be wel aqueyntid with tho bokis..and not forto have in oon tyme, or ii tymes, a liȝt superficial overreding or heering oonly.
c
- a1425 Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Wel 225)380/11 : Þat colour is a thynge þat is bad schadwal & superficiall & a thynge þat now is & now not is, for it fadys & vanesshys & passys awey at every alteracion & changynge of þe body.
d
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(3) (Htrn 95)46a/a : Whi þat þe iunctures of hem be [?read: be not] serratil oþere liche to a sawe, but superficiel allonelie, for whi ȝif þei holed þurȝ þe bones þat ben cleped verualia þei schulde raþer make hem more febel þen conforten hem.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)20a/a : The cause whi þese bonys beþ ioyned to þe verual bonys not by serratile ioyntis but oonly superficial is þis, [etc.].
e
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)328a/a : Þis nombre is diuided in lyneal, superficial, & insolid..þe numbre superficial is y-write nought oonliche in lengþe but also in brede.
- c1450 Art Number.(Ashm 396)46/14,18-21 : Of nombres one is lyneal, anoþer superficialle, anoþer quadrat, anoþer cubike or hoole..Nombre superficial is þat comethe of ledynge of oo nombre into a-nother, wherfor it is callede superficial, for it hathe 2 nombres notyng or mesurynge hym, as a superficialle thynge [L superficies] hathe 2 dimensions, þat is to sey, lengthe and brede.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Correction--revise gloss in sense 1.(e) [quot.(a1398) *Trev. Barth. (Add 27944) 328a/a]: "of a number: a whole number whose units, each represented by a symbol (e.g., a dot) may be set out in a regular pattern to form certain plane figures; ~ superficial." Cp. thre-cornered ~, etc.