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Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

overfront en · NOUN

Etymology

From over- + front.

Meanings

  1. A false overshirt, jacket, or vest that is attached to the bodice or shirt of a garment.
    • A garment of the general character described, comprising an open-front under-body shirt, and an over-front thereon consisting of a lower abdominal body portion having lateral extensions attached to the side portions of the under-body shirt, and divergent upwardly extended strap portions connected to the shoulder portions of the under-body shirt, said overfront being connected to said under-body shirt adjacent its lower edge whereby to form pockets between the under-body shirt and the over-front. 1943, Frederick W. Bryant, “Sports Shirt”, in Official Gazette of the United States Patent Office, page 526:
    • The straight overfronts and back of the gown were made in Ondine silk , shot blue and faint yellow with an opalescent effect 1894, “What to Wear: Chit-Chat on Dress”, in Cassell's Family Magazine:
    • No 2—Is the Overfront, forming a jacket that opens over the fullness. 1887 April, Emily H. May, “Girl's Frock: with Supplement”, in New Peterson's Magazine, volume 91, number 4, page 377:
  2. A decorative wall hanging or dorsal that sits behind the altar and matches the netherfront.
    • The most noteworthy altar-cloths were a set given by Alice Chester, the overfront representing our Lord rising out of the Sepulchre, sometimes called our Lord's Pity, with a netherfront and two curtains all "of one work." 1904, Transactions - Bristol and Gloucestershire Archaeological Society, page 258:
    • Or when they had four columns to hold up the overfront and riddells, these were often utilised to carry a taper on each. 1904, Essays on Ceremonial, page 7:
    • It seems quite possible that the 'greater sorte' of silk pictures in particular were intended to adorn an altar, either as an overfront, a netherfront or even a reredos. 2016, Sarah Hamilton, Andrew Spicer, Defining the Holy:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
overfronts Number=Plur lexicographic

overfront en · VERB

Etymology

From over- + front.

Meanings

  1. (obsolete) To confront; to oppose; to withstand.
    • Doubling of the Reere, your battaile will be both lengthened and strengthned , And so by the sudden bringing of these Supplies into the reere, you may not only relieve your owne, but happily overfront your enemy. 1643, William Barriffe, Military Discipline: or the Yong Artillery Man, page 72:
    • When things indifferent shall be set to overfront us under the banners of sin , what wonder if we be routed , and by this art of our adversary fall into the subjection of worst and deadliest offences ? 1643, J[ohn] M[ilton], The Doctrine and Discipline of Divorce: […], London: […] T[homas] P[aine] and M[atthew] S[immons] […], →OCLC:
    • The first, a foe no tempest can unbend; The next more supple, but a dangerous friend; This flies the storm he dares not to oppose, That boldly stands, to overfront his foes; 1807, Voltaire, The Henriade, Translated by Daniel French, Esq., page 154:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
overfronts Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic
overfronted Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
overfronted Tense=Past lexicographic
overfronting Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic