All 3 Uses of
superficial
in
Mrs. Dalloway
- But to go deeper, beneath what people said (and these judgements, how superficial, how fragmentary they are!)†
*superficial = relating to a surface rather than to anything deep or penetrating
- Fixed though they seemed at their posts, at rest in perfect unanimity, nothing could be fresher, freer, more sensitive superficially than the snow-white or gold-kindled surface; to change, to go, to dismantle the solemn assemblage was immediately possible; and in spite of the grave fixity, the accumulated robustness and solidity, now they struck light to the earth, now darkness.†
- Clarissa once, going on top of an omnibus with him somewhere, Clarissa superficially at least, so easily moved, now in despair, now in the best of spirits, all aquiver in those days and such good company, spotting queer little scenes, names, people from the top of a bus, for they used to explore London and bring back bags full of treasures from the Caledonian market—Clarissa had a theory in those days—they had heaps of theories, always theories, as young people have.†
Definition:
relating to a surface rather than to anything deep or penetrating (often of injuries or thinking)