v. [f. SUPERFICIAL + -IZE.]
† 1. trans. To make a surface of (paint or color); also transf. to cover (the cheeks) with a surface of paint, to paint. Obs. rare.
1593. Nashe, Christ’s T. (1613), 159. That colour on their cheeks you behold superficializ’d, is but sir Iohn whites, or sir Iohn Red-caps liuery.
1633. [see SUPERFICIALIZED].
b. fig. To put a surface or gloss upon; to gloss over. rare.
1849. Whipple, Lit. & Life, vi. (1851), 98. It is a characteristic weakness of the day to superficialize evil; to spread a little cold cream over Pandemonium.
2. intr. To treat a subject or do something superficially.
1656. Blount, Glossogr., Superficialize, to do any thing on the outside, or not throughly.
1871. Galaxy (N. Y.), March, 328 (Cent.). Better to elaborate the history of Greece or of Rome or of England than to superficialize in general history.
3. trans. To render superficial, give a superficial character to.
1828. Pusey, Hist. Enq., I. 138. Morus and Koppe superficialized still further the Christian ideas.
1863. M. Pattison, in National Rev., Jan., 217. It is a necessary consequence of the advance of education that every subject becomes vulgarised and superficialised.
Hence Superficialized ppl. a., Superficializing vbl. sb.
1633. T. Adams, Exp. 2 Peter ii. 14 (1865), 484/1. Were it not for superficialized Cheeks, and enticing dresses, the most graceless lecher would abbor them.
1828. Pusey, Hist. Enq., I. 129. The first theologians … gave occasion to the superficializing or the rejection of Christian doctrine.
1907. Catholic Weekly, 27 Dec., 1/5. The long school hours to which children are being subjected will soon breed a race of superficialised prigs.
