Coming up to the surface of water, ground, or a hidden level; or appearing or becoming visible after being hidden.
From 'surface,' which combines 'sur-' (over) and 'face' (the front or outer layer). The word entered English in the 16th century from French 'surface.' It describes both literal emergence and figurative revelation.
Surfacing is used for everything from whales breaching water to childhood trauma coming up in therapy—it's a word that captures that moment when something hidden suddenly becomes visible.
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