superficialyoudaoicibaDictYouDict[superficial 词源字典]
superficial: [14] Superficial means literally ‘of the surface’. It comes from Latin superficiālis, a derivative of superficiēs ‘surface’. This was a compound noun formed from the prefix super- ‘above’ and faciēs ‘face’ (ancestor of English face). The main modern sense, ‘concerned only with outward appearances’, emerged in the 16th century.
=> face, surface[superficial etymology, superficial origin, 英语词源]
superficial (adj.)youdaoicibaDictYouDict
late 14c., in anatomical and mathematical uses, "of or relating to a surface," from Late Latin superficialis "of or pertaining to the surface," from superficies "surface, upper side, top," from super "above, over" (see super-) + facies "form, face" (see face (n.)). Meaning "not deep, without thorough understanding, cursory, comprehending only what is apparent or obvious" (of perceptions, thoughts, etc.) first recorded early 15c. (implied in superficially "not thoroughly").