Where does “overdefinition” come from?

overdefinition (English) comes from English definition, from Middle English diffinicioun, from Middle French definition, from Latin dēfīnītiō, from Latin dēfīniō, from Latin dē-, from Latin dē, from Latin post — afterwards, post; by, at.

overdefinition (English): The act or process of overdefining; excessive...

Definitions

  1. The act or process of overdefining; excessive...

Ancestry of “overdefinition”, step by step

overdefinition traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English definition

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishdefinitionA statement of the meaning of a word or word...
2Middle Englishdiffinicioun
3Middle Frenchdefinitiondefinition
4Latindēfīnītiōdefinition; precise description
5Latindēfīniōto bound, set bounds to; to limit
6Latindē-of; from
7Latinof; concerning; about
8Latinpostbehind; after, since, besides, except; behind,...
9Latinposteablative singular of postis
10Proto-Italicpostibehind, after
11Proto-Indo-Europeanpóstiafter
12Proto-Indo-Europeanpósafterwards, post; by, at

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 pós