survey
survey
UK[ˈsɜː.veɪ]US[ˈsɝː.veɪ]
v
to look at or consider a person, place, or thing carefully and completely in order to get an impression or gather information.
v
to measure and record the details of an area of land in order to produce a map or plan.
n
a general examination or study of a subject, situation, or area.
n
an act of measuring and recording the details of an area of land.
Morpheme Breakdown
sur
vey
sur
over
vey
see
Etymology
the word 'survey' entered english in the late middle english period from the anglo-norman french 'surveier', a variant of old french 'sorveoir'. this old french term was a compound of the prefix 'sur-' (from latin 'super', meaning 'over') and 'veoir' (meaning 'to see', from latin 'vidēre'). the literal sense was 'to look over', which directly informs its modern meanings. from the physical act of overseeing land to measure it, the meaning broadened to include the figurative act of examining or studying any subject comprehensively from a superior vantage point.
Analysis
Structure: sur (over) + vey (see)
sur- (from latin 'super-', meaning 'over, above'). vey (from old french 'veoir', meaning 'to see', itself from latin 'vidēre').
Examples
the committee will survey the damage caused by the storm.
they hired a firm to survey the property before construction.
the latest survey shows a shift in public opinion on the issue.