Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “overdefine” come from?

overdefine (English) comes from English define, from Middle English definen, from Old French definer, from Latin dēfīniō, from Latin dē-, from Latin dē, from Latin post, from Latin poste — afterwards, post; by, at.

overdefine (English): To define too rigidly, or in too much depth

Definitions

  1. To define too rigidly, or in too much depth

Ancestry of “overdefine”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishdefineTo determine with precision; to mark out with...
2Middle Englishdefinen—
3Old Frenchdefinerto finish; to end
4Latindēfīniō—
5Latindē-—
6Latindē—
7Latinpostbehind; after, since, besides, except; behind,...
8Latinposteablative singular of postis
9Proto-Italicposti—
10Proto-Indo-Europeanpósti—
11Proto-Indo-Europeanpósafterwards, post; by, at
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pós →