Where does “overembellishment” come from?
overembellishment (English) comes from English over, from Middle English over, from Old English ōfer, from Proto-West Germanic obar, from Proto-Germanic uber, from Proto-Indo-European upér, from Proto-Indo-European upó, from Proto-Indo-European h₃ewp-.
overembellishment (English): Excessive embellishment
Definitions
- Excessive embellishment
Ancestry of “overembellishment”, step by step
overembellishment traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English over
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | over | Discontinued; ended or concluded; Thoroughly;... |
| 2 | Middle English | over | riverbank, seashore, brink |
| 3 | Old English | ōfer | riverbank, seashore, brink, edge, margin, border |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | obar | over, above |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | uber | over; over, above |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | upér | above; over |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | upó | under, below |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | h₃ewp- | — |
via English embellishment
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | embellishment | An added touch; an ornamental addition; a... |
| 2 | English | embellish | To make more beautiful and attractive; to... |
| 3 | Old French | embellir | to make prettier; to make more attractive; to... |
| 4 | Old French | bel | Alternative form of biau; good, pretty |
| 5 | Latin | bellus | beautiful, pretty, handsome; pleasant, agreeable,... |
| 6 | Latin | villus | hair, tuft of hair, shaggy hair |
| 7 | Latin | vellus | The wool shorn from a sheep; fleece; wool; The... |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂welh₁- | to rule; strong, powerful; hair; wool |