Where does “overcategorize” come from?

overcategorize (English) comes from English categorize, from English category, from French catégorie, from German Kategorie, from Italian categoria, from Spanish categoría, from Portuguese categoria, from Late Latin categoria — Creates transitive imperfective verbs from roots.

overcategorize (English): To categorize more than is suitable or necessary

Definitions

  1. To categorize more than is suitable or necessary

Ancestry of “overcategorize”, step by step

overcategorize traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English categorize

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishcategorizeTo assign a category; to divide into classes
2EnglishcategoryA group, often named or numbered, to which items...
3Frenchcatégoriecategory
4GermanKategoriecategory
5Italiancategoriacategory, topic; class
6Spanishcategoríacategory; standing, regard
7Portuguesecategoriacategory
8Late Latincategoriaclass of predicables; accusation; predicament
9Ancient Greekκατηγορίαcharge, accusation; predication, category
10Ancient Greekκατηγορέωto speak against, especially before judges, to...
11Ancient Greek-έωUsed to form verbs from nouns, adjectives and...
12Proto-Indo-European-éyetiForms causative imperfective verbs from roots;...
13Proto-Indo-European-yetiCreates transitive imperfective verbs from roots

via English over

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishoverDiscontinued; ended or concluded; Thoroughly;...
2Middle Englishoverriverbank, seashore, brink
3Old Englishōferriverbank, seashore, brink, edge, margin, border
4Proto-West Germanicobarover, above
5Proto-Germanicuberover; over, above
6Proto-Indo-Europeanupérabove; over
7Proto-Indo-Europeanupóunder, below
8Proto-Indo-Europeanh₃ewp-
Every word from Proto-Indo-European -yeti
overcategorize — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer