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superficialness

 [soo-per-fish-uhl]   Origin

su·per·fi·cial

   [soo-per-fish-uhl]
adjective
1.
being at, on, or near the surface: a superficial wound.
2.
of or pertaining to the surface: superficial measurement.
3.
external or outward: a superficial resemblance.
4.
concerned with or comprehending only what is on the surface or obvious: a superficial observer.
5.
shallow; not profound or thorough: a superficial writer.
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6.
apparent rather than real.
7.
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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Superficialness is always a great word to know.
So is ninnyhammer. Does it mean:
the offspring of a zebra and a donkey.
a fool or simpleton; ninny.
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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
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

superficial
c.1420, "of or relating to a surface," from L. superficialis "of or pertaining to the surface," from superficies "surface," from super "above, over" (see super-) + facies "form, face" (see face (n.)). Meaning "not deep or thorough" (of perceptions, thoughts, etc.) first recorded c.1530.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

superficial su·per·fi·cial (s&oomacr;'pər-fĭsh'əl)
adj.

  1. Of, affecting, or being on or near the surface.

  2. Not thorough.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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