Surrounding
/səˈraʊn.dɪŋ/noun
Located or occurring around something on all sides.
Did you know?The verb surround is historically linked to Latin superundare, meaning “to overflow,” connecting an everyday spatial word with the imagery of water rising over its boundaries.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*uper
“Over, above, or beyond”
Classical Latin
Latin
super
“Above, over, or beyond”
Classical Latin
Latin
superundare
“To overflow or surge over”
12th Century
Old French
soronder
“To overflow or inundate”
Middle English
Anglo-French
surounder
“To surround, overrun, or encompass”
15th Century
English
surround
“To encircle or encompass”
Modern English
English
surrounding
“Existing or positioned around something”