sŭperfĭcĭes, ēi, f. [super-facies], the upper side of a thing, the top, surface.
I In gen. (post-Aug.): testudinum, the upper shell , Plin. 6, 22, 24, § 91; 6, 24, 28, § 109; 9, 10, 12, § 35: sardonychum, id. 37, 6, 23, § 89: aquae, the surface , Col. 8, 15, 3: arborum, the part that grows above ground , id. 4, 11, 1; Plin. 16, 31, 56, § 130; 19, 4, 19, § 56; Col. 11, 3, 21: vitis, id. Arb. 10, 2; 4, 29, 13; 4, 11, 2: aedis, the roof , Plin. 34, 3, 7, § 13: Ὑπερῷον superficies, cenaculum, percula, Gloss. Philox.: candelabri, the upper part , in which the light is placed , Plin. 34, 3, 6, § 11: terrae, Vulg. Gen. 2, 6 et saep.—
II In partic.
A Jurid. Lat., a building , as standing above the ground: cum aedes ex duabus rebus constent ex solo et superficie, Dig. 41, 3, 23: De superficiebus, ib. 43, 18: superficiem consules ex senatusconsulto aestimabunt, Cic. Att. 4, 1, 7; 4, 2, 5; Liv. 5, 54, 2; Dig. 23, 3, 32; 43, 17, 3, § 5; Col. 1, 5, 9; Inscr. Orell. 3286 al.— Also in the collat. form SVPERFICIVM, Inscr. Grut. 608, 8; Dig. 31, 3, 39; Kalend. Farnes. ap. Grut. 137, 2; 138, 2.—
B In math., a superficies (only length and breadth), Plin. 11, 48, 108, § 260; Rhem. Fann. Pond. 107; Macr. Somn. Scip. 2, 2, 6.