Open sidebar Etymology of Shelf and Table bookzdotmedia Sola Fide I need an etymology unfolding of the words shelf and table Sure, here's an etymology unfolding of the words "shelf" and "table": Shelf: The word "shelf" comes from the Old English word "scealf," which meant a "division or ledge in a wall to hold objects." This word was later influenced by the Old Norse word "skjalf," which meant "a shelf or ledge." Over time, the word "scealf" evolved into "shelf" in Middle English, which is the form we still use today. Table: The word "table" also has Old English roots. It comes from the word "tabele," which referred to a "flat slab or board used for inscriptions or records." The word "tabele" was borrowed from the Latin word "tabula," which had a similar meaning. The Latin word "tabula" also gave rise to the French word "table," which was then borrowed into English during the Middle Ages. Interestingly, the word "table" originally referred to a flat surface used for writing or recording information, rather than the piece of furniture we now associate with the word. The meaning of "table" as a piece of furniture emerged in the 14th century, and by the 16th century, it had become the primary meaning of the word. bookzdotmedia Sola Fide Please unfold 2 levels deep the word surface Certainly! Here's an etymology unfolding of the word "surface" two levels deep: Surface: The word "surface" comes from the Latin word "superficies," which was formed from the prefix "super-" (meaning "above" or "over") and the noun "facies" (meaning "face" or "surface"). So, "superficies" literally meant "above or over the surface." Super- and facies: As mentioned above, "super-" is a prefix in Latin that means "above" or "over." It is related to the English words "superior," "supreme," and "supernatural," among others. The word "facies," on the other hand, originally referred to a person's face, but it also came to mean "appearance" or "aspect" more generally. In scientific contexts, it refers to the visible surface of a mineral or rock. In both cases, the word emphasizes the outermost layer or visible aspect of something, which is why it is a component of the word "surface." ChatGPT Mar 14 Version. Free Research Preview. Our goal is to make AI systems more natural and safe to interact with. Your feedback will help us improve.