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
- The spillage resultant from overflow; excess;...
Ancestry of “overflow”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | overflowen | To overflow; to cause flooding or immerse in... |
| 2 | Old English | oferflōwan | to overflow; cover with water |
| 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- | — |