Etymology dictionary

overdub (v.) — oversupply (n.)

overdub (v.)

"add (extraneous sounds) to a recording," 1954, from over- + dub (v.). As a noun (over-dub) from 1953. Related: Overdubbed; overdubbing.

overeat (v.)

"to eat too much," 1590s, from over- + eat (v.). Related: Overate; overeating. Old English had oferæt (n.) "gluttony;" oferæte (adj.) "gluttonous, excessive eating."

overeducated (adj.)

also over-educated, "educated to excess or too long or beyond what is necessary," 1788, from over- + educated.

overestimate (v.)

also over-estimate, "estimate too highly, overvalue," 1768, from over- + estimate (v.). Related: Over-estimated; over-estimating.

overestimation (n.)

also over-estimation, "overvaluation, act of estimating too highly," 1793, noun of action from overestimate (v.).

overexcitement (n.)

also over-excitement, "excess of excitement," 1815, from over- + excitement.

overexcite (v.)

also over-excite, "excite unduly or excessively," 1708 (implied in over-excited), from over- + excite. Related: Overexciting.

overexpose (v.)

also over-expose, 1869, in photography, "to expose (a plate) to light for too long," from over- + expose (v.). Related: Overexposed; overexposing.

also over-exposure, "excessive exposure; an excess of exposure," 1834 in reference to cleavage in women's dress; 1855 in photography, from over- + exposure. Figurative sense, in reference to celebrity, is attested from 1969.

overextend (v.)

also over-extend, "to take on too much" (work, debt, etc.), 1937, from over- + extend. Related: Overextended; overextending.

overfed (adj.)

"fed too much, fed to excess," 1570s, from over- + fed (adj.).

overfeed (v.)

also over-feed, "to feed to excess," c. 1600, from over- + feed (v.). Related: overfed; overfeeding.

overfill (v.)

"fill to excess," Old English oferfyllan; see over- + fill (v.). Related: Overfull; overfilling.

overfish (v.)

also over-fish, "to fish too much, so as to unduly diminish the stock or supply of," 1813, from over- + fish (v.). Related: Overfished; overfishing.

overflow (v.)

Middle English overflouen, from Old English oferfleow "to flow across, flood, inundate," also "to flow over (a brim or bank);" see over- + flow (v.). Common Germanic (Old High German ubarfliozan, German überfliessen, etc.). Related: Overflowed; overflowing.

overflow (n.)

1580s, "act of overflowing, an inundation," also "the excess that flows over," from overflow (v.).

overgraze (v.)

of grassland, "grazed too much," 1929, from over- + graze (v.). Related: Overgrazed; overgrazing.

overground (adj.)

"situated above ground" (as opposed to underground), 1879, from over- + ground (n.).

overgrown (adj.)

late 14c., "covered with growth," past-participle adjective from overgrow "to cover, overspread (with foliage);" late 14c., overgrouen, see over- + grown, and compare Old English verb ofergrowan. Meaning "having grown too large, grown beyond the fit or natural size" is attested from late 15c.

overgrowth (n.)

"exuberant or excessive growth," c. 1600, from over- + growth. Also see overgrown.

overhand (adv.)

1570s, "upside down," from over- + hand. Sense in tennis, etc., "with the hand above that which is gripped," is by 1861. As an adjective, of throws, strokes, or bowls, "done with the hand raised above the shoulder," it is recorded by 1828 (in cricket), originally over-handed. Middle English had over-honde as a noun, "mastery, victory" (compare upper hand).

overhang (v.)

"impend or hang over," hence "threaten," 1590s, from over- + hang (v.). Related: Overhung; overhanging (by 1560s). Middle English had overhongen "to hang over (something)," late 14c.

overhang (n.)

1864, "a projecting part;" 1883, "fact of overhanging," from overhang (v.).

overhasty (adj.)

also over-hasty," "too hasty," 1570s, from phrase over hasty (Middle English); see over- + hasty.

overhaul (v.)

1620s, "to slacken (rope) by pulling in the opposite direction to that in which it is drawn," from over- + haul (v.); originally nautical. The extended sense "examine thoroughly with a view to repairs" (by 1705) is via the notion of "pull rigging apart for examination," which was done by slackening the rope by hauling in the opposite direction to that in which it is pulled in hoisting. From 1793 it replaced overhale (1530s) in sense of "overtake," probably by similarity of sound and loss of the literal sense of hale (v.). Related: Overhauled; overhauling.

overhaul (n.)

"an examination, inspection, repair," 1788, in nautical slang, from overhaul (v.).

overhead (adv.)

mid-15c., over-hed, "above one's head, aloft," from over- + head (n.) or from a survival of Old English oferheafod. The adjective, "situated above or aloft," is attested from 1874. As a noun, short for overhead costs, etc., it is attested by 1914.

overhear (v.)

"to hear one who does not wish to be heard or what one is not meant to hear," 1540s, from over- + hear. The notion is perhaps "to hear beyond the intended range of the voice." Old English oferhieran (West Saxon), oferhēran (Anglian) also meant "to not listen, to disregard, disobey." Compare overlook (v.) for negative force of over; also Middle High German überhaeren, Middle Dutch overhoren in same sense. And Middle English had overheren "to hear fully or plainly" (c. 1300). The various senses reflect the wide range of over-. Related: Overheard; overhearing.

overheat (v.)

"to make too hot, heat to excess" (transitive), late 14c., overhēten, from over- + heat (v.). Intransitive sense "to become too hot" is by 1902, originally in reference to motor engines. Related: Overheated; overheating.

overhunt (v.)

also over-hunt, "to hunt too much, so as to unduly diminish the stock or supply of," 1862, from over- + hunt (v.). Related: Overhunted; overhunting.

overindulgence (n.)

also over-indulgence, "excessive indulgence," 1630s, from over- + indulgence. First attested in Donne (over-indulgency). Related: Overindulgent.

overindulge (v.)

also over-indulge, "indulge to excess," 1690s, from over- + indulge. Related: Overindulged; overindulging.

overjoy (v.)

late 14c., overjoien, "to rejoice over, gloat" (a sense now obsolete), from over- + joy (q.v.); translating Latin supergaudere (in Psalm xxxiv, etc.). Transitive sense of "to fill with gladness, give great or extreme joy to" is recorded from 1570s (now usually in past participle overjoyed). Middle English had also a verb overmirthen "rejoice" (c. 1400).

overking (n.)

also over-king, "a king who rules over other kings or princes," late 12c., from over- + king (n.).

overkill (n.)

"capacity to kill in excess of what is required or wanted," 1958, from over- + kill (v.). Originally in reference to nuclear arsenals; the general sense is from 1965. The verb is attested from 1946.

overlay (v.)

"to cover the surface of (something)," c. 1300, in part from Old English oferlecgan "to place over," also "to overburden," and in part from over- + lay (v.). There also was an overlie in Middle English, but it merged into this word. Similar compounds are found in other Germanic languages, such as German überlegen, Dutch overlegen, Gothic ufarlagjan. Related: Overlaid; overlaying.

overlay (n.)

in the printing sense, "bit of paper cut and pasted on an impression surface," by 1818, from overlay (v.). Meaning "transparent sheet over a map, chart, etc." is from 1938. In earliest noun use it meant "a necktie" (1725).

overland (adv.)

"over or across the country," 1580s, from over- + land (n.). As an adjective, "made, done, or lying upon or across the land," by 1800.

overlap (v.)

"to lap or fold over, to partially extend over, extend so as to rest or lie upon," 1726; see over- + lap (v.2). Verbal phrase lap over "extend beyond" is recorded from 1630s. Related: Overlapped; overlapping.

overlap (n.)

"the lapping of one thing over another; thing or part which overlaps," 1813, from overlap (v.).

overly (adv.)

"above or beyond the proper amount or degree," mid-15c., from over (adv.) + -ly. Old English had oferlice "excessively." Used colloquially in place of over- in certain situations. After Old English and until 20c., the word is mostly in Scottish and American English and was often "regarded as an Americanism in the U.K." [OED].

overlie (v.)

early 13c., overlien, "lie upon, cover over," from over- + lie (v.2), or from an unrecorded Old English *oferlicgan. In Middle English also "to have sexual intercourse" (c. 1400). "In use from 12th to 16th c.; in 17-18th displaced by overlay; reintroduced in 19th c., chiefly in geological use" [OED] in reference to the relative position of strata. Related: Overlay; overlain.

overload (v.)

1550s, "to place too great a burden on, load with too heavy a cargo," from over- + load (v.). Intransitive sense from 1961. Related: Overloaded; overloading. The noun is attested from 1640s, "an excessive load or burden;" of electrical current, from 1904. Middle English had overlade (v.) in this sense, hence overladen (adj.).

overlong (adv.)

also over-long, mid-13c., "for too long a time," from over- + long (adv.).

overlong (adj.)

early 14c., of text, "too lengthy, requiring too much time, very tedious;" from over- + long (adj.). From late 14c. as "lasting too long." Middle English had also overshort "too short, too brief."

overlook (n.)

"place that affords a view from a height," by 1861, from overlook (v.).

overlook (v.)

late 14c., overloken, "to examine carefully, scrutinize, inspect," from over- + look (v.). Another Middle English sense was "to peer over the top of, survey from on high, view from a high place" (c. 1400).

These two literal senses have given rise to the two main modern meanings. The meaning "to look over or beyond and thus fail to see" (hence "to pass over indulgently") is via the notion of "to choose to not notice" and is attested from 1520s. The seemingly contradictory sense of "to watch over officially, keep an eye on, superintend" is from 1530s. Related: Overlooked; overlooking. In Shakespeare's day, overlooking also was a common term for "inflicting the evil eye on" (someone or something). Middle English had oure-loker (over-looker), meaning "a timekeeper in a monastery" (early 15c.).

overlord (n.)

late 12c., "a feudal superior, ruler possessing the fealty of other rulers," from over- + lord (n.). In English history, especially a king of one of the Anglo-Saxon realms who held pre-eminence or authority over some of the other kings and chiefs. The word was chosen in 1943 as the Allied code-word for the invasion of western Europe that resulted in D-Day.

overmaster (v.)

mid-14c., overmaistren, "overpower, overcome, subdue, vanquish," from over- + master (v.). Related: Overmastered; overmastering.

overmatch (v.)

late 14c., overmacchen, "be more than a match for, defeat, excel, outdo, surpass," from over- + match (v.). Burton ("Anatomy of Melancholy," 1621) has it in the sense of "to give in marriage above one's station." Related: Overmatched; overmatching.

overmuch (adj.)

"too great in amount, excessive, immoderate," c. 1300, from over- + much (q.v.). As an adverb, "excessively, immoderately," from late 14c. As a noun, "an excessive amount," c. 1300. Old English had cognate ofermicel. Middle English had also overmore "further, in addition, moreover" (late 14c.).

overnice (adj.)

also over-nice, "fastidious," early 14c., from over- + nice (adj.).

overnight (adv.)

c. 1300, "at night, at evening, through or during the night," from over- + night (n.). Originally especially "during the night just passed." The meaning "in the course of a single night, hence seemingly instantaneously" is attested from 1939. As a noun, "a stop lasting one night," by 1959. As a verb, "to pass the night," by 1891.

overpay (v.)

also over-pay, "to pay in excess, pay more than is necessary," c. 1600, from over- + pay (v.). Related: Overpaid; overpaying; overpayment.

overpark (v.)

also over-park, "to park (a car, etc.) longer than permitted," 1938, American English, from over- + park (v.). Related: Overparked; overparking.

overpass (n.)

"stretch of road that passes over another," 1929, American English, from over- + pass (v.). + Overpass has been a verb since late c. 1300, "to go over, go across."

overplay (v.)

"to emphasize (something) too much," 1933, a metaphor from card games, in to overplay (one's) hand, "to spoil one's hand by bidding in excess of its value" (1926), from over- + play (v.). Earlier (from 1819) in a theatrical sense, "act (a part) with an extravagant and unnatural manner." Middle English had overpleien in the sense of "to outplay, defeat." Related: Overplayed; overplaying.

overpopulate (v.)

also over-populate, "to overrun with too many people," 1828 (implied in overpopulated), from over- + populate (v.). Related: Overpopulating. Overpopulous "over-populated" is attested from 1670s.

overpopulation (n.)

also over-population, "excess of population," 1807, from over- + population. Malthus (1798) had over-populousness.

overpower (v.)

"to overcome with superior power, vanquish by superior force," 1590s, from over- + power (v.). Related: Overpowered; overpowering; overpoweringly.

overprice (v.)

"to price (something) excessively high," c. 1600, from over- + price (v.). Related: Overpriced; overpricing. Middle English had overdere (adv.) "too expensively, at too great cost" (c. 1300).

overproduction (n.)

also over-production, "excessive production, production of commodities in excess of normal demand," 1822, from over- + production.

overprotection (n.)

also over-protection, 1929, originally in reference to children, "act or condition of protecting to an undue or unhealthy extent," from over- + protection.

overprotective (adj.)

also over-protective, "that protects to an undue or unhealthy extent," 1930, from over- + protective. Related: Overprotectively; overprotectiveness.

overrate (v.)

also over-rate, "to rate or estimate too highly," 1610s, from over- + rate (v.). Related: Overrated; overrating.

overreach (v.)

early 14c., overrechen, "to reach or rise above or beyond" (transitive), from over- + reach (v.). Meaning "to extend out over something, to cover" is from c. 1400. Sense of "to reach beyond one's strength, reach or stretch too far" is from 1560s. As a noun, "too great a reach," from 1550s; in the sense of "an act of overreaching," 1610s. Related: Overreached; overreaching.

overreact (v.)

also over-react, "respond with excessive force or emotion," by 1928, from over- + react (v.). Related: Overreacted; overreacting; overreaction.

override (v.)

Middle English overriden, from Old English oferridan "to ride across, ride through or over," from ofer "over" (see over) + ridan "to ride" (see ride (v.)). Originally literal, of cavalry, etc. Figurative meaning "to set aside arrogantly" is by 1827, from the notion of "to trample down," hence "supersede." The mechanical sense "to suspend automatic operation" is attested from 1946. As a noun in the sense "act or process of suspending automatic operation," from 1946. Related: Overrode; overriding; overridden.

overripe (adj.)

also over-ripe, "too ripe, more than ripe," 1670s, from over- + ripe (adj.). Related: Overripen; overripening.

overrule (v.)

also over-rule, "rule against; set aside, as by a higher authority," 1590s, from over- + rule (v.). It was used earlier in a sense "to govern, control, have sway over" (1570s). Related: Overruled; overruling.

overrun (v.)

also over-run, Middle English overrennen, from Old English oferyrnan "to run across, pass over;" see over- + run (v.). Meaning "continue beyond a specified time" is from early 14c. Meaning "to ravage (a land), maraud, plunder" is by mid-14c. Of weeds, etc., "to grow over, cover all over," by 1660s. The noun meaning "excess expenditure over budget" is from 1956. Related: Overran; overrunning.

oversized (adj.)

"over or above the normal size," 1788, past-participle adjective from oversize "make too large" (1670s), from over- + size (v.).

overseer (n.)

late 14c., "supervisor, superintendent, one who looks over," agent noun from oversee (v.). Specifically, "one who superintends workmen;" especially with reference to slavery, "one who has charge, under the owner or manager, of the work done on a plantation."

oversee (v.)

Old English oferseon "to look down upon, keep watch over, survey, observe;" see over- + see (v.). Meaning "to supervise to superintend" is attested from mid-15c. The verb lacks the double sense of similar overlook, but it sometimes had it and this survives in the noun form oversight. Compare German übersehen, Dutch overzien. Related: Oversaw; overseen.

overseas (adj.)

1580s, "foreign, from beyond the sea," from earlier oversea "transmarine, of or pertaining to movement over the sea," 1550, from over- + sea. The adverb, "across or beyond the sea," is attested from 1580s, from earlier adverb oversea (late Old English). As an adjective, 1892 in English; earlier oversea, "of or pertaining to movement over the sea"(1749). Popularized during World War I as a British euphemism for "colonial." As a noun, "foreign parts," by 1919.

oversell (v.)

also over-sell, 1879, "sell more than one can deliver," from over- + sell (v.). Figurative sense of "make unrealistic or excessive claims for" is by 1928.

oversensitive (adj.)

also over-sensitive, "excessively sensitive," by 1798, from over- + sensitive. Related: Oversensitively; oversensitiveness.

overset (n.)

"an overturn, ruin," mid-15c., from over- + set (v.). The verb, "to turn over, cause to capsize," is from 1590s; earlier it meant "to oppress" (c. 1200), "to overpower" (late 14c.). Related: Overset; oversetting.

oversexed (adj.)

also over-sexed, "inordinately desirous of sex; having sexual properties or tendencies in an excessive degree," 1898; see over- + sex (n.).

overshadow (v.)

Old English ofersceadwian "to cast a shadow over, obscure;" see over + shadow (v.). It was used to render Latin obumbrare in New Testament, as were Middle High German überschatewen, Middle Dutch overschaduwen, Gothic ufarskadwjan in those languages. Figurative sense is from 1580s. Related: Overshadowed; overshadowing.

overshoe (n.)

also over-shoe, "a shoe worn over another," especially "an outer waterproof shoe," 1829, from over- + shoe (n.). Related: Overshoes.

overshoot (v.)

mid-14c., "to shoot, run, or pass beyond (a point or limit), exceed, overstep," over- + shoot (v.). Meaning "to shoot over or beyond" (a mark or target) is by 1540s. Related: Overshot; overshooting.

overshot (adj.)

1530s, in reference to water-wheels, "driven by water shot over from above," past-participle adjective from overshoot. In old slang also "having exceeded the proper limits in drinking, drunk" (c. 1600).

oversight (n.)

early 15c., "supervision, superintendence," from over- + sight. Meaning "an omission of notice, a mistake of inadvertence, fact of passing over without seeing" attested from late 15c.; compare oversee.

oversimplification (n.)

also over-simpification, "act or process of simplifying excessively," 1835, from over- + simplification.

oversimplify (v.)

"explain in too simplistic terms," 1908, from over- + simplify. Related: Oversimplified; oversimplifying.

oversleep (v.)

late 14c., "to sleep beyond the proper or desired time of waking" (intrans.), from over- + sleep (v.). Transitive sense of "to sleep beyond" is by 1520s. Related: Overslept; oversleeping. Old English had a noun oferslæp "too much sleep."

oversoul (n.)

1841, Emerson's word for the divine spiritual unity of things, based on Sanskrit adhyatman, from over- + soul (n.).

overspend (v.)

1610s, "to wear out," from over- + spend. Meaning "to spend more than is necessary" is attested from 1857. Related: Overspent; overspending.

overspread (v.)

c. 1200, "to spread throughout, spread over, cover over," from over- + spread (v.). Related: Overspread (past tense); overspreading. Old English had ofersprædan "to overlay, cover," and compare German überspreiten, Dutch overspreiden.

overstate (v.)

1630s, "assume too much grandeur;" see over- + state (n.1). Meaning "exaggerate in statement, declare too strongly" is attested from 1798, from state (v.). Related: Overstated, overstating.

overstay (v.)

"to stay beyond the limits or duration of," 1640s, from over- + stay (v.). Related: Overstayed; overstaying.

overstand (v.)

"to stand over or beside," from Old English oferstandan; see over- + stand (v.). In modern Jamaican patois it is used for understand as a better description of the relationship of the person to the information or idea.

overstatement (n.)

"an exaggerated statement," 1783, from over- + statement.

overstep (v.)

Old English ofersteppan "to step over or beyond; cross, exceed;" see over- + step (v.). From the beginning used in figurative senses. Related: Overstepped; overstepping.

overstock (v.)

"to supply in excess of what is wanted, to glut," 1640s, from over- + stock (v.). Related: Overstocked; overstocking. The noun, "superabundance," is attested by 1710.

overstrain (v.)

also over-strain, 1580s, transitive, "exert to an injurious degree," from over- + strain (v.). Intransitive sense of "strain or strive to excess" is by 1703. Related: Overstrained; overstraining.

overstrong (adj.)

"too powerful, too harsh," c. 1200, originally of medicines and remedies, from over- + strong (adj.).

overstrung (adj.)

also over-strung, 1767 of musical instruments, "with strings too tense;" 1801, of persons, "too sensitively organized," from over- + strung. In the figurative extension, the notion is the one in the colloquial expression wound too tight. As a type of piano with string sets crossing each other obliquely, by 1860.

overstuffed (adj.)

also over-stuffed, of furniture, "completely covered with a thick layer of stuffing," 1883, from over- + past participle of stuff (v.).

oversupply (n.)

also over-supply, "a supply in excess of demand," 1833, from over- + supply (n.). As a verb by 1865. Related: Oversupplied; oversupplying.