Overcome Definition
overcome
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary Jump to: navigation, search
Contents |
English
Etymology
Old English ofercuman, corresponding to over- + come. Cognate with Dutch overkomen, German überkommen, Swedish överkomma, Danish overkomme.
Pronunciation
Verb
to overcome (third-person singular simple present overcomes, present participle overcoming, simple past overcame, past participle overcome)
- (transitive) To surmount (a physical or abstract obstacle); to prevail over, to get the better of.
- (transitive, obsolete) To win (a battle).
- 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, Book IV:
- thenne he sente for the quene and sone she was come, and she maade grete Joye of the ouercomynge of that bataille.
- 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, Book IV:
- (transitive) To overwhelm with emotion (usually in passive).
- I was overcome with anger.
References
- overcome in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
- overcome in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
Anagrams
|