Etymology dictionary

suppression (n.) — sushi (n.)

suppression (n.)

early 15c., "impression, effect," from Old French suppression and directly from Latin suppressionem (nominative suppresio), noun of action from past-participle stem of supprimere "press down, hold back" (see suppress). The earlier noun in English was suppressing (late 14c.).

The meaning "act or state of crushing or quelling" as by power or authority is from 1520s. The sense of "act of concealing or withholding from utterance or publication" is from 1700.

supprise (n.)

mid-15c., "injury, wrong, outrage," from supprise (v.) "overpower, subdue, put down; grieve, afflict" (c. 1400), also "take unawares, attack unexpectedly" (mid-15c.), from Anglo-French supprise, fem. past participle of supprendre, variant of sorprendre (see surprise (n.)).

Obsolete from c. 1600. The noun later also had sense "oppression; surprise attack," but this perhaps was an alternate form of surprise used in a specific sense. OED writes that "Through variants like surpriss, this vb. became confused with suppress, of which it has some of the meanings."

suppurate (v.)

early 15c., suppuraten (Chauliac), "cause to come to a head or fill with pus," a transitive sense, now obsolete, from Latin suppuratus, past participle of suppurare "form or discharge pus" (see suppuration). The intransitive meaning "form or produce pus" is from 1650s. Related: Suppurated; suppurating.

suppuration (n.)

early 15c., suppuracioun (Chauliac), "the causing or promoting of pus," from Latin suppurationem (nominative suppuratio), noun of action from past participle stem of suppurare "form or discharge pus," from sub "under" (see sub-) + stem of pus (see pus).

suppurative (adj.)

early 15c. (Chauliac), suppuratif, "having the property of producing pus," from medical Latin suppurativus, from suppurat-, stem of suppurare (see suppuration). As a noun from 1560s, "medicine that promotes suppuration."

supra-

word-forming element of Latin origin meaning "above, higher than, over; beyond; before," from Latin supra (adv./prep.) "above, over, before, beyond, on the upper side," originally supera, in supera (parte), literally "on the upper (side)." This is from old fem. ablative singular of superus (adj.) "above," which is related to super "above, over" (from PIE root *uper "over").

Rare as a prefix in Latin, it was more common in Medieval Latin; in English it is chiefly scientific or technical.

It also has been interchangeable with, but somewhat more technical than, super-. Formerly many words had both forms though sometimes the senses were distinct: supranatural is from 1787 in reference to divinity (supernatural went to the ghosts); suprahuman is attested from 1740.

Latin supra (adv./prep.) "above" is used as a shorthand directional in English texts, "(see) above," often abbreviated as sup.

supracelestial (adj.)

also supra-celestial, "situated above the heavens," early 15c., from Latin supracelestialis; see supra- + celestial.

supralapsarian (adj.)

1630s, in reference to the theological doctrine that before the creation or the fall, God selected some to be damned and others redeemed, with -ian + supralapsary, from supra- "above, beyond" + Latin lapsus "a fall" (see lapse (n.)). The opposite of infralapsarian. Also as a noun from 1630s.

supra-national (adj.)

also supranational, "having power or influence that transcends national boundaries," 1871 (T.H. Huxley), from supra- + national. Perhaps inspired by German supra-national (1865).

supra-nationalism (n.)

also supranationalism, 1901, from supra-national + -ism.

suprascapular (adj.)

also supra-scapular, "situated above or on the upper part of the scapula," 1828, from supra- + scapular.

supreme (adj.)

1520s, "highest," sometimes literal but especially "highest in authority; holding the highest place in power," from Old French suprême (15c.) and directly from Latin supremus "highest," superlative of superus "situated above," from super "above" (from PIE root *uper "over").

The general sense of "most extreme, greatest possible" is from 1590s. The noun meaning "person having power" is by 1550s; in reference to God (the Supreme) by 1702.

Supreme Being "God" is attested from 1690s; Supreme Court is from 1689. In French history the Festival of the Supreme Being (June 8, 1794) was instituted by Robespierre to replace the Worship of Reason.

supremacy (n.)

"state of being supreme or in the highest station of power or authority," 1540s, from supreme + -acy, or from Latin supremitatem (nominative supremitas). Supremity in same sense is from 1530s. The Act of Supremacy (1534) proclaimed Henry VIII supreme head of the English Church. The Oaths of Supremacy (1549) denied the supremacy of the Pope in ecclesiastical or temporal affairs in England.

supremacist (n.)

"one who believes in the inherent superiority of one race or sex or social group," by 1892, in white supremacist, originally with reference to political campaigns and candidates in the U.S. South (Louisiana), from supremacy + -ist. Compare supremist. Related: Supremacism.

supremist (n.)

1640s, "one who holds or takes supreme authority," from supreme + -ist. Related: Supremity (1530s).

sur- (2)

assimilated form of sub- before -r-.

sur- (1)

word-forming element meaning "over, above, beyond, in addition," especially in words from Anglo-French and Old French, from Old French sour-, sor-, sur-, a form of super-, from Latin super "above, over" (from PIE root *uper "over").

It is in surname, surcharge, surpass, survive, but little used as a word-forming element in English outside scientific and technical terms.

sura (n.)

chapter of the Quran, 1610s, from Arabic surah, literally "step, degree." Compare Hebrew shurah "row, line."

sural (adj.)

"of or pertaining to the calf of the leg," 1610s, with -al (1) + Latin sura "calf of the leg," which is perhaps related to surus "post, stake," both of uncertain etymology (de Vaan).

surcease (v.)

early 15c., surcesen, "cease from an action, desist," chiefly a legal term, from Anglo-French surseser, Old French sursis, past participle of surseoir "to refrain, delay," from Latin supersedere "forbear, refrain or desist from" (see supersede).

The English spelling with -c- was influenced by the unrelated verb cease. As a noun from 1580s, "cessation, stop." Both noun and verb are considered archaic.

surcharge (v.)

early 15c., surchargen, "overcharge, charge too much expense," from Old French surcharger "to overload, overburden; overcharge" (12c.), from sur- "over" (see sur- (1)) + chargier "to load" (see charge (v.)).

In the physical sense of "overload, overburden" by 1580s. The meaning "make an extra charge on" is from 1885. The noun is also attested early 15c., "a charge or load above another, excessive load or burden." Related: Surcharged; surcharging.

surcingle (n.)

"a girth for a horse" or other animal, mid-14c., sursengle, from Old French surcengle, from sur- "over" (see sur- (1)) + cengle "a girdle," from Latin cingulum "girth" (see cinch (n.)).

surcoat (n.)

"outer coat," early 14c., surcote, originally a loose robe, frequently of rich material, worn over armor, from Old French surcote "outer garment," from sur- "on, upon, over, above" (see sur- (1)) + cote (see coat (n.)). Later the name of a jacket-like garment worn by women 15c.

surculation (n.)

"act of pruning," 1660s, noun of action from past participle stem of Latin surculare "clear of shoots or twigs," from surculus "twig, stick; tender young shoot, sprout, sucker," a diminutive of surus "post, stake," perhaps also related to sura "calf of the leg;" the group is of uncertain etymology (de Vaan).

surd (adj.)

1550s, "irrational" (of numbers), "not capable of being expressed in rational numbers," from Latin surdus "deaf, unheard, silent, dull; willfully deaf, inattentive," which might be related to susurrus "a muttering, whispering" (see susurration), but the semantics would be awkward.

The mathematical sense is from the use of Latin surdus to translate Arabic (jadhr) asamm "deaf (root)," itself apparently a loan-translation of Greek alogos, literally "speechless, without reason" (Euclid book x, Def. 3). In French, sourd remains the principal word for "deaf." As a noun from 1540s. Related: Surdity.

sure (adj.)

mid-13c., seur, "safe against attack, secure, out of danger," later "reliable, fit or worthy to be depended upon" (c. 1300); "mentally certain, confident of one's positions" (mid-14c.); "firm, strong, resolute" (c. 1400). It is from Old French seur, sur "safe, secure; undoubted, dependable, trustworthy" (12c.), which is from Latin securus "free from care, untroubled, heedless, safe" (see secure (adj.)).

The pronunciation development is that of sugar (n.). The colloquial pronunciation "sho" is attested by 1871 in representations of U.S. Black speech (fo sho); compare mo.

As "certain to be or happen," 1560s. As an affirmative meaning "yes, certainly" it dates from 1803. This traces back to the Middle English meanings "firmly established; having no doubt," and to phrases such as to be sure (1650s), sure enough (1540s), and for sure (1580s).

To make sure "establish beyond doubt" is from 14c.; be sure "be certain, do not fail" (colloquial, be sure to click the links) is by 1590s. Figurative formulas of certainty beginning as sure as are attested from late 14c. (as fire is red); as sure as (one is) born is from 1640s.

The use as an adverb meaning "assuredly, certainly" is from early 14c. Sure thing "something beyond the possibility of failure, a certainty," is by 1836.

surely (adv.)

c. 1300, seurli, "without danger or risk of injury, loss, etc.," from sure (adj.) + -ly (2). It is attested from late 14c. as "without fear or anxiety; with certainty, confidence, or assurance;" also "truly, in a truthful manner."

It is attested from mid-14c. qualifying statements and with a sense of "indeed, for certain, certainly" (surely you jest). "Often used, like doubtless, in a manner implying doubt or question" [Century Dictionary].

sureness (n.)

c. 1400, "security," a sense now archaic; late 15c. as "state of being certain," from sure (adj.) + -ness. The sense of "trustworthiness, quality of being unfailing" is by 1837.

sure-enough (adj.)

"genuine, real," mainly emphatic, by 1803, U.S. colloquial, from the phrase sure enough "most certainly" (1540s); see sure (adj.) + enough.

surefire (adj.)

also sure-fire, "certain to succeed," by 1864, American English, from sure + fire (v.). Originally of rifles.

sure-footed (adj.)

"treading securely, not liable to stumble, slip, or fall," 1630s, literal and figurative; see sure (adj.) + foot (n.). Related: Sure-footedly; sure-footedness.

suresby (n.)

also Suresby, a 16c.-17c. mock-appellation for a person to be depended upon, 1550s, from sure (adj.) + -by, common ending element in place-names (and thus surnames); compare rudesby. Udall's "Ralph Royster-Doyster" (1555) has a character Sym Suresby.

surety (n.)

c. 1300, seurte, "a guarantee, promise, pledge or assurance," from Old French seurté "a promise, pledge, guarantee; assurance, confidence" (12c., Modern French sûreté), from Latin securitatem (nominative securitas) "freedom from care or danger, safety, security," from securus (see secure (adj.)).

It is attested from late 14c. as "security, safety, stability; state of peace," also "subjective certainty, certitude; confidence." It is attested from early 15c. as "property, money, etc. deposited as a pledge of fulfilling an obligation or as security against loss or damage," and by mid-15c. as "one who makes himself responsible for another." Until 1966, the French national criminal police department was the Sûreté nationale.

surfing (n.)

1955, verbal noun from surf (v.). The surfing craze went nationwide in U.S. from California in 1963. Surf-board is from 1826, originally in a Hawaiian and Polynesian context. Surf music attested from 1963.

surf (v.)

"ride the crest of a wave," 1917, from surf (n.). Related: Surfed; surfing. Figurative use by 1957. In the internet sense, it is attested by 1993.

surf (n.)

"A swell of the sea which breaks upon the shore" [Century Dictionary], 1680s, probably from earlier suffe (1590s), a word of uncertain etymology. First found in an account from Madras, hence perhaps of Indic origin.

Similarity to sough (v.) also has been noted. Century Dictionary would have surf (n.) as "prob. simulating a phonetic spelling" of the noun sough "a rushing, whispering sound, a murmuring roar."

In reference to the mass of white water and foam left by a breaking wave, by 1757.

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.

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.

surfboard (n.)

by 1826, from surf (n.) + board (n.1).

surfeit (v.)

late 14c., surfeten, intransitive, "indulge to excess, overdo," especially "over-eat, feed to excess," from surfeit (n.). Related: Surfeited; surfeiting.

The transitive sense of "overeat so as to disorder digestion" is from 1590s. Figuratively, "fill and disgust, cloy, nauseate with overabundance of anything," by 1590s.

An antique survival, it was fully developed in the Middle English vocabulary of gluttony: surfeitor, surfetry, surfetous, surfeture, surfetously, surfety.

surfeit (n.)

early 14c., surfet, "excess quantity;" late 14c., "immoderate behavior, unhealthy overindulgence," especially in food and drink, "gluttony" (the usual later sense), from Old French sorfet "excess; arrogance" (Modern French surfait). This is a noun use of the past participle of surfaire "overdo," from sur- "over" (see sur- (1)) + faire "do," from Latin facere "to make, do" (from PIE root *dhe- "to set, put").

Used by 1510s in reference to the feeling of fullness and oppression resulting from overindulgence; figuratively, "disgust caused by excess, satiety," 1640s.

surfer (n.)

"one who rides a surfboard," 1955, agent noun from surf (v.). Earlier it was a local New England name of a type of large North Atlantic coastal sea-duck (1876) also known as surf-duck or surf-scooter. A surfman (1880) was one experienced in handling bpoats in surf, especially in rescues.

surge (v.)

1510s, "to rise and fall" on or as on the waves, a sense now obsolete, from surge (n.), or from French surgir "rise, ride (as a ship does a wave), spring up, arrive." The meaning "rise in waves, rise high and roll forcefully" is from 1560s, literal and figurative. Related: Surged; surging.

surge (n.)

late 15c. (Caxton), "fountain, spring of water" (a sense now obsolete), a word of uncertain origin, probably from French sourge-, stem of sourdre "to rise, swell," from Latin surgere "to rise, arise, get up, mount up, ascend; attack," contraction of surrigere, from assimilated form of sub "up from below" (see sub-) + regere "to keep straight, guide" (from PIE root *reg- "move in a straight line," with derivatives meaning "to direct in a straight line," thus "to lead, rule").

The meaning "high, rolling swell of water, large wave or billow" is from 1520s; figurative sense of "an excited rising up" (as of feelings) is from 1510s. As "act of surging," by 1660s.

surgent (adj.)

"rising in waves," 1590s, from Latin surgentem (nominative surgens) "rising," present participle of surgere "to rise" (see surge (n.)).

surgeon (n.)

c. 1300, surgien, sorgien (the common form), a contraction of cirurgien (learned form), "medical practitioner chiefly concerned with wounds, fractures, etc.;" etymologically, "person who heals by manual operation on the patient," from Anglo-French surgien (13c.), from Old French surgiien, cirirgiien (13c.), from cirurgie "surgery." This is from Latin chirurgia "surgery," from Greek kheirourgia, from kheirourgos "working or done by hand," from kheir "hand" (from PIE root *ghes- "the hand") + ergon "work" (from PIE root *werg- "to do").

Surgener (early 15c.) also was used. Surgeon-general, an officer of high rank in the army or navy service, is by 1889. The surgeon-fish (1871) is so called for the lancet-shaped spine on each side of the tail.

surgery (n.)

c. 1300, sirgirie, "the work of a surgeon; medical treatment of an operative nature, such as cutting-operations, setting of fractures, etc.," from Old French surgerie, surgeure, contraction of serurgerie, from Late Latin chirurgia "surgery," from Greek kheirourgia, from kheirourgos "working or done by hand," from kheir "hand" (from PIE root *ghes- "the hand") + ergon "work" (from PIE root *werg- "to do"). Compare surgeon.

According to OED, the British sense of "session at which a Member of Parliament (or other public servant) is available locally to be consulted by constituents" is by 1951, from an extended sense in medical practice of "regular session at which a doctor receives patients for consultation" in a room or den set aside for that purpose called a surgery (by 1846). The word has been extended in Britain to other free consultations for advice.

surgical (adj.)

"of or pertaining to surgery or surgeons," 1770, earlier chirurgical (early 15c.), from surgery + -ical. Related: Surgically.

surly (adj.)

1570s, "haughty, arrogant, imperious," alteration of Middle English sirly "lordly, imperious" (14c.), literally "like a sir," from sir + -ly (1).

The meaning "rude, gruff, sour in nature or disposition" is attested by 1660s. For sense development, compare lordly, and German herrisch "domineering, imperious," from Herr "master, lord." Related: Surlily; surliness.

surmisable (adj.)

"that may be thought to exist despite lack of certain evidence," 1817; see surmise (v.) + -able.

surmise (n.)

early 15c., legal, "a charge, a formal accusation or allegation," from Old French surmise "accusation," noun use of past participle of surmettre (see surmise (v.)).

The meaning "thought that something, despite lack of certain evidence, may be" is found in English by 1580s.

surmise (v.)

c. 1400, surmisen, in law, "to charge, allege, accuse" (a sense now obsolete), from Old French surmis, past participle of surmettre "to accuse," from sur- "upon" (see sur- (1)) + mettre "put," from Latin mittere "to send" (see mission).

The meaning "infer conjecturally, infer or guess upon slight evidence" is recorded from 1700, from the noun. Related: Surmised; surmising; surmisant.

surmount (v.)

early 14c., "have power, rule; have control over; gain power over" (now archaic or obsolete); late 14c. as "be higher than, be situated above," also "rise above, flood; go or fly beyond;" also "transcend" (a limit, a boundary). This is from Old French surmonter "rise above," from sur- "beyond" (see sur- (1)) + monter "to go up" (see mount (v.)).

The meaning "prevail over, overcome" (difficulties, obstacles, etc.) is by late 15c. The physical sense of "get on top of" is by 1530s; that of "be or stand over or upon" is from 1610s. Related: Surmounted; surmounting.

surmountable (adj.)

late 15c., "conquerable, susceptible to conquest," from Anglo-French sormuntable; see surmount + -able.

surname (n.)

c. 1300, "additional name; a name, title, or epithet added to a person's baptismal or Christian name," from sur "above" (from Latin super-; see sur- (1)) + name (n.). The word is modeled or Englished from on Anglo-French surnoun "surname" (early 14c.), a variant of Old French sornom, from sur "over" + nom "name." Surnoun also was used in Middle English. Also compare nickname.

Usually derived from a quality, achievement, or place, the surnames tended to be passed down and become family names. Hence the word took the sense of "a family name, a last name" by late 14c.

Hereditary surnames existed among Norman nobility in England in early 12c., among the common people they began to be used 13c., increasingly frequent until near universal by end of 14c. The process was later in the north of England than the south.

An Old English word for this was freonama, etymologically "free name;" also tonama "surname, nickname," literally "to-name." The verb is attested from 1510s, "give an additional name to." Related: Surnamed.

surnominal (adj.)

"of or relating to a surname," 1875, see surname and nominal. Perhaps a dictionary word.

surpass (v.)

"excel, exceed, go beyond" in any sense, 1550s, from French surpasser "go beyond, exceed, excel" (16c.), from sur- "beyond" (see sur- (1)) + passer "to go by" (see pass (v.)). Related: Surpassed; surpassing; surpassingly.

Surpassing, as a present-participle adjective in the sense of "excelling in an eminent degree" is by 1570s.

surplice (n.)

"loose-fitting overgarment, usually of white linen and having broad, full sleeves," c. 1200, from Old French surpeliz (12c.), from Medieval Latin superpellicium (vestmentum) "a surplice," literally "an over fur (garment)," from Latin super "over" (see super-) + Medieval Latin pellicium "fur garment, tunic of skins," from Latin pellis "skin" (from PIE root *pel- (3) "skin, hide").

So called because it was donned over the dress of fur worn by clergymen and choristers for warmth in unheated medieval churches, called in English a pelisse (Middle English pilch, pelch), "a circumstance which also explains its great breadth and fullness" [Century Dictionary].

surplus (n.)

"that which remains above what is used or needed," late 14c., from Old French sorplus "remainder, extra" (12c., Modern French surplus), from Medieval Latin superplus "excess, surplus," from Latin super "over" (see super-) + plus "more" (see plus). As an adjective from late 14c.

surplusage (n.)

"excess, redundancy, remainder, rest," c. 1400, from Medieval Latin surplusagium, from surplus (see surplus) or from an unrecorded Old French *surplusage.

surprise (v.)

also formerly surprize, late 14c., surprisen, "overcome, overpower" (in reference to emotions, a sense now obsolete), from the noun or from Anglo-French surprise, fem. past participle of Old French surprendre (see surprise (n.), and compare supprise).

The military sense of "attack without warning" is by 1540s; the general sense of "come upon unexpectedly" is from 1590s; that of "strike with sudden astonishment" is 1650s.

surprising (adj.)

1640s, "coming upon unexpectedly;" 1660s, "extraordinary, astonishing, exciting surprise," present-participle adjective from surprise (v.). Related: Surprisingly.

surprise (n.)

also formerly surprize, late 14c., "unexpected attack or capture," from Old French surprise "a taking unawares" (13c.), from noun use of past participle of Old French sorprendre "to overtake, seize, invade" (12c.), from sur- "over" (see sur- (1)) + prendre "to take," from Latin prendere, contracted from prehendere "to grasp, seize" (from prae- "before," see pre-, + -hendere, from PIE root *ghend- "to seize, take").

The general meaning "something unexpected, that which causes a feeling of surprise" is recorded by 1590s, that of "feeling of astonishment caused by something unexpected" is c. 1600, as in taken by surprise (1690s).

Surprise party originally was a stealth military detachment (1826); festive sense in reference to a group assembling by arrangement at the house of an unsuspecting common friend and bringing the makings of a supper, is attested by 1857. According to Thornton's "American Glossary," originally a gathering of members of a congregation at the house of their preacher "with the ostensible purpose of contributing provisions, &c., for his support," and sometimes called a donation party. A surprise cup was a trick cup (one with a false bottom or some other device).

The meaning "fancy dish" is attested from 1708.

surprised (adj.)

1610s, "attacked unexpectedly," past-participle adjective from surprise (v.). The meaning "excited by something unexpected" is from 1882.

surreality (n.)

1936, from surreal + -ity.

surreal (adj.)

"bizarre and dreamlike; characteristic of surreal art," 1936, a back-formation from surrealism or surrealist. Related: Surreally.

surrealism (n.)

mid-20c. avant-garde art and literary movement, 1927, from French surréalisme, from sur- "beyond" (see sur-) + réalisme (see realism).

According to OED [2nd ed. print 1989] the French word was coined c. 1917 by Guillaume Apollinaire and taken up by André Breton as the name of the movement he launched in 1924 with "Manifeste de Surréalisme." It was taken up in English at first in the French form; the Englished version is from 1931.

See sur- (1) + realism.

surrealistic (adj.)

"characteristic or suggestive of surrealism," 1930, from surrealist (see surrealism) + -ic.

surrealist (adj.)

"of, pertaining to, or characteristic of surrealism," 1917, from French surréaliste (see surrealism). From 1925 as a noun.

Surrey

Old English suþrige (722), literally "Southerly District" (relative to Middlesex), from suðer, from suð (see south) + -ge "district" (see yeoman). Bede and others use it as a folk-name, as if "People from Surrey."

The meaning "light two-seated, four-wheeled pleasure carriage for four" is from 1895, short for Surrey cart, an English pleasure cart (introduced in U.S. 1872 and modified there), named for Surrey, England, where it first was made.

surrender (v.)

early 15c., surrendren, in law, "give (something) up to the power or possession of another," from Old French surrendre "give up, deliver over" (13c.), from sur- "over" (see sur- (1)) + rendre "give back" (see render (v.)).

The reflexive sense of "to give oneself up" (especially as a prisoner) is from 1580s. Related: Surrendered; surrendering.

surrender (n.)

early 15c., surrendre, in law, "a giving up" (of an estate, land grant, interest in property, etc.), "act of yielding or resigning the possession of," from Anglo-French surrendre, Old French surrendre noun use of infinitive, "give up, deliver over" (see surrender (v.)). The meaning "a giving (someone) into lawful custody" is from late 15c.

surreptitious (adj.)

"fraudulent, done by stealth or without legitimate authority," mid-15c., surrepticious, from Latin surrepticius "stolen, furtive, clandestine," from surreptus, past participle of surripere, "seize secretly, take away, steal, plagiarize," from assimilated form of sub "from under" (hence, "secretly;" see sub-) + rapere "to snatch" (see rapid). Related: Surreptitiously.

The Latin verb also was subripere, in an unassimilated form, and English also used subreptitious for "clandestine" (c. 1600).

surrogation (n.)

"appointment of a person to an office in place of another," 1530s, from Medieval Latin surrigationem (nominative surrogatio), noun of action from past-participle stem of Latin surrogare/subrogare "put in another's place, substitute," from assimilated form of sub "in the place of, under" (see sub-) + rogare "to ask, propose," which is apparently a figurative use of a PIE verb meaning literally "to stretch out (the hand)," from root *reg- "move in a straight line."

surrogate (n.)

early 15c., "a substitute, person appointed or deputed by authority to act for another," from Latin surrogatus, past participle of surrogare/subrogare "put in another's place, substitute." This is from an assimilated form of sub "in the place of, under" (see sub-) + rogare "to ask, propose," which is apparently a figurative use of a PIE verb meaning literally "to stretch out (the hand)," from root *reg- "move in a straight line."

Originally usually of bishops or judges; general sense of "person or thing that acts for or takes the place of another" is by 1640s. The meaning "woman pregnant with the fertilized egg of another woman" is attested from 1978 (from 1972 of animals; surrogate mother in a psychological sense is from 1971). As an adjective from 1630s.

surrogacy (n.)

"office of a surrogate," 1811; see surrogate + abstract noun suffix -cy.

surroundings (n.)

"environment around a person or thing," 1857, plural verbal noun from surround (v.). Surrounding (n.) as "act of encircling" (especially in hunting) is by 1825.

surround (v.)

early 15c., surrounden, "to flood, overflow" (a sense now obsolete), from Anglo-French surounder, a variant of Old French soronder, suronder "to overflow, abound; surpass, dominate," from Late Latin superundare "overflow," from Latin super "over" (see super-) + undare "to flow in waves," from unda "wave" (from PIE root *wed- (1) "water; wet;" compare abound).

The sense of "encompass, enclose, or shut in on all sides" is recorded by 1610s, influenced by a figurative meaning in French of "dominate," and by sound-association with round, which also influenced the spelling of the English word from 17c. but is unrelated. Its true English relations include abound, redound. From 1680s as "extend round, encircle as a border." Related: Surrounded; surrounding.

surtax (n.)

"extra tax, tax on something already taxed," 1834, from French surtaxe, from Old French sur- "over" (see sur- (1)) + taxe "tax" (see tax (n.)).

survey (v.)

c. 1400, surveien, "consider, contemplate," from Anglo-French surveier, Old French sorveoir "look (down) at, look upon, notice; guard, watch," from Medieval Latin supervidere "oversee, inspect," from Latin super "over" (see super-) + videre "to see" (from PIE root *weid- "to see"). Related: Surveyed; surveying; surveyance "supervision" (late 14c.).

The meaning "inspect or examine with reference to condition, value, etc." is from mid-15c. That of "to take linear measurements of a tract of ground" is recorded from 1540s. The sense of "take a broad view of" is from 1560s; that of "look carefully into" is from 1590s. The meaning "measure and record the beliefs, opinions, etc. of a certain group" is by 1953.

survey (n.)

late 15c., survei, "oversight, supervision," from survey (v.).

The meaning "act of viewing in detail" is from 1540s. The different-tending sense of "act of looking at something from a general view, comprehensive prospect" is attested by 1560s, originally figurative. The "operation of finding and recording the particulars of some part of the earth's surface" is by 1610s. The meaning "poll, systematic collection of data on opinions, etc." is attested from 1927.

surveying (n.)

c. 1400, "action of inspecting or examining," verbal noun from survey (v.). The meaning "act or process of determining the boundaries and area of some part of the earth's surface" is from 1550s.

surveil (v.)

1903, probably a back-formation from surveillance. Sometimes also surveille. Related: Surveilled; surveilling.

surveillance (n.)

1802, "oversight, supervision; watch spying" (1799 as a French word in English), from French surveillance "oversight, supervision, a watch," noun of action from surveiller "oversee, watch" (17c.), from sur- "over" (see sur- (1)) + veiller "to watch," from Latin vigilare, from vigil "watchful" (from PIE root *weg- "to be strong, be lively"). Related: Surveillant (1819).

Seemingly a word that came to English from the Terror in France; "surveillance committees" were formed in every French municipality in March 1793 by order of the Convention to monitor the actions and movements of suspect persons, outsiders, and dissidents.

surveyor (n.)

early 15c., surveiour (late 14c. as a surname), "supervisor, overseer," from Anglo-French surveiour "guard, overseer," Old French sorveor, from Old French verb sorveoir "to survey" (see survey (v.)). Original sense is rare.

It is attested by early 15c. as the title of financial or administrative officers in estates or municipalities, hence "one who views or examines to ascertain condition, quality, etc." The meaning "one who measures land" is by 1550s.

surviver (n.)

c. 1600, a rare nativized formation of an agent noun for survive; the usual form being survivor. They mean the same.

survivable (adj.)

"capable of being survived," 1961, of automobile wrecks, from survive + -able. Earlier "capable of surviving," 1879.

survival (n.)

1590s, "act of surviving or outliving; continuation after some event," from survive + -al (2). It is attested by 1716 as "one who or that which outlasts or continues after."

The phrase survival of the fittest (1864) was used by Spencer in place of Darwin's natural selection to explain the continued existence of forms of a living thing best fitted to their conditions, and the disappearance of others.

Other nouns from survive included survivance (1620s); survivorship (1620s) seems limited to legal use.

survive (v.)

mid-15c. (implied in surviving), transitive, "outlive, live longer than, continue in existence after some point in time or the death of another," originally in the legal (inheritance) sense, from Anglo-French survivre, Old French souvivre (12c., Modern French survivre), from Late Latin supervivere "live beyond, live longer than," from super "over, beyond" (see super-) + Latin vivere "to live" (from PIE root *gwei- "to live").

The intransitive sense "live on, remain in existence" is from late 15c. Related: Survived.

survivability (n.)

1881, "capability of surviving," of animals, legal rights; see survivable + -ity. In 20c. especially in reference to military attacks.

survivalist (n.)

from 1882 in various senses having to do with things continuing or outlasting, from survival + -ist. As "one who practices outdoor survival skills" (often in anticipation of apocalypse or in fear of government), it is attested by 1976 (in the writings of U.S. survivalist Kurt Saxon).

survivor (n.)

c. 1500, in legal language, "one who or that which outlives another," agent noun in Latin form from survive.

In general use, "anything left or living after the death of another or others." The meaning "one who has a knack for pulling through adversity" is attested from 1971. Related: Survivorship.

Survivor syndrome as a name for the feeling of guilt in some who have lived through a traumatic event in which others died is recorded by 1968. The idea is slightly older.

Susan

fem. proper name, from French Susanne, from Late Latin Susanna (see Susanna). A top-10 name for girls born in the U.S. 1945-1968 (peaking at #2 from 1957-60).

Susanna

also Susannah, fem. proper name, from Latin Susanna, from Greek Sousanna, from Hebrew Shoshannah, literally "a lily." The name of one of the women that attended Jesus in his journeys. Greek also borrowed the Semitic word in its literal sense as souson "lily."

susception (n.)

mid-15c., "an undertaking, act of taking upon oneself," from Old French susception or directly from Latin susceptionem (nominative susceptio) "an undertaking," noun of action from past-participle stem of suscipere "to take; admit, accept; sustain, support" (see susceptible). A word from theology. As "action or capacity of taking something into the mind; passive mental reception," by 1756.

susceptibility (n.)

1640s, "capability of being influenced or receiving impressions," from Medieval Latin susceptibilitas, from Late Latin susceptibilis (see susceptible), or else a native formation from susceptible + -ity. It is attested by 1753 specifically as "mental sensitiveness, tendency to experience emotions."

susceptive (adj.)

early 15c., "having the quality of taking something in, receptive, capable of admitting," from Medieval Latin susceptivus, from suscept-, stem of suscipere "to take, accept, receive" (see susceptible). Related: Susceptively; susceptiveness; susceptivity.

susceptible (adj.)

"capable of admitting, capable of being passively affected," c. 1600, from Late Latin susceptibilis "capable, sustainable, susceptible," from Latin suscept-, past-participle stem of suscipere "to take, catch, take up, lift up; receive, admit; submit to; sustain, support, bear; acknowledge, accept," from sub "up from under" (see sub-) + capere "to take" (from PIE root *kap- "to grasp").

"[C]ommonly with of before a state and to before an agency" [Century Dictionary]. Susceptive in the same sense is recorded from early 15c. Specifically as "capable of emotional impression, sensitive mentally" by 1709. Related: Susceptibly; susceptibleness.