Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “overflow” come from?

Overflow comes from Old English oferflōwan, from Middle English overflowen, combining over- and flow.

overflow (English): The spillage resultant from overflow; excess;...

Definitions

  1. The spillage resultant from overflow; excess;...

Ancestry of “overflow”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishoverflowenTo overflow; to cause flooding or immerse in...
2Old Englishoferflōwan—
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-—

Words derived from “overflow”

  • overfloweth
  • overflower
  • overflowable
  • overflow
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₃ewp- →