Where does “overblown” come from?
Overblown derives from English blow, which comes from Middle English blowe, Old English blāw, Proto-Germanic blēwaz, and Proto-Indo-European bʰel-, meaning to swell or inflate.
overblown (English): Of exaggerated importance; too heavily...
Definitions
- Of exaggerated importance; too heavily...
Ancestry of “overblown”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | overblow | To cover with blossoms or flowers; To blow over;... |
| 2 | English | Over- | Above, or higher |
| 3 | English | over | Discontinued; ended or concluded; Thoroughly;... |
| 4 | Middle English | over | riverbank, seashore, brink |
| 5 | Old English | ōfer | riverbank, seashore, brink, edge, margin, border |
| 6 | Proto-West Germanic | obar | over, above |
| 7 | Proto-Germanic | uber | over; over, above |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | upér | above; over |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | upó | under, below |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | h₃ewp- | — |