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superficially

[soo-per-fish-uhl]

adjective

being at, on, or near the surface: a superficial wound.

of or pertaining to the surface: superficial measurement.

external or outward: a superficial resemblance.

concerned with or comprehending only what is on the surface or obvious: a superficial observer.

shallow; not profound or thorough: a superficial writer.

EXPAND

apparent rather than real.

insubstantial or insignificant: superficial improvements.

COLLAPSE

Origin:
1375–1425; late Middle English superfyciall < Late Latin superficiālis, equivalent to Latin superfici(ēs) superficies + -ālis -al¹

Related forms

su·per·fi·ci·al·i·ty

[soo-per-fish-ee-al-i-tee] , su·per·fi·cial·ness, noun

su·per·fi·cial·ly, adverb

qua·si-su·per·fi·cial, adjective

qua·si-su·per·fi·cial·ly, adverb

sub·su·per·fi·cial, adjective

EXPAND

sub·su·per·fi·cial·ly, adverb

sub·su·per·fi·cial·ness, noun

un·su·per·fi·cial, adjective

un·su·per·fi·cial·ly, adverb

COLLAPSE

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Superficially is always a great word to know.

So is doohickey. Does it mean:

a stew of meat, vegetables, potatoes, etc.

a gadget; dingus; thingumbob.

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Collins

World English Dictionary

superficial (ˌsuːpəˈfɪʃəl)

—*adj*
1.	of, relating to, being near, or forming the surface: superficial bruising
2.	displaying a lack of thoroughness or care: a superficial inspection
3.	only outwardly apparent rather than genuine or actual: the similarity was merely superficial
4.	of little substance or significance; trivial: superficial differences
5.	lacking originality or profundity: the film's plot was quite superficial
6.	(of measurements) involving only the surface area

[C14: from Late Latin superficiālis of the surface, from Latin superficies]

superficiality

—n

super'ficialness

—n

super'ficially

—*adv*

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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"The function of the hero in art is to inspire the reader or spectator to continue in the same spirit from where he, the hero, leaves off. He must release the spectator's potentiality, for potentiality is the historic force behind nobility. And to do this the hero must be typical of the characters and class who at that time only need to be made aware of their heroic potentiality in order to be able to make their society juster and nobler. Bourgeois culture is no longer capable of producing heroes. On the highbrow level it only produces characters who are embodied consolations for defeat, and on the lowbrow level it produces idols—stars, TV "personalities," pin-ups. The function of the idol is the exact opposite to that of the hero. The idol is self-sufficient; the hero never is. The idol is so superficially desirable, spectacular, witty, happy that he or she merely supplies a context for fantasy and therefore, instead of inspiring, lulls. The idol is based on the appearance of perfection; but never on the striving towards it."

-John Berger

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