4 ms·
The etymology of surveillance is closer to “watch over”, as if from above. The literal “sur” prefix could be “over” or “on” or “upon” when translated to English
by joshklein 8y ago
The etymology of surveillance is closer to “watch over”, as if from above. The literal “sur” prefix could be “over” or “on” or “upon” when translated to English, so it implies an above-ness.
The “sous” prefix is the logical opposite, usually translating to “below” or “under” or “beneath”, though it can be used to mean “within”.