Dictionary

overapply en · VERB

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *úp Proto-Indo-European *-er Proto-Indo-European *upér Proto-Germanic *uber Old English ofer- Middle English over- English over- Latin applicō Old French applierbor. Middle English aplien English apply English overapply From over- + apply.

Meanings

1. (transitive) To apply to excess.
   • German speakers, like English speakers, are prone to overapplying the weak suffix (-t) to irregular verbs, resulting in errors. 1999, Steven Pinker, Words and Rules: The Ingredients of Language:

Forms