Where does “overflown” come from?
overflown (English) comes from English flown, from Middle English flowen, from Old English flōwan, from Proto-West Germanic *flōan, from Proto-Germanic flōaną, from Proto-Indo-European plōw-, from Proto-Indo-European plew- — to fly, flow, run.
overflown (English): past participle of overfly; past participle of...
Definitions
- past participle of overfly; past participle of...
Ancestry of “overflown”, step by step
overflown traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English flown
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | flown | past participle of fly; Suspended in the flies |
| 2 | Middle English | flowen | To flow, stream, or issue; to move; To become... |
| 3 | Old English | flōwan | to flow |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | *flōan | to flow |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | flōaną | to flow |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | plōw- | to flow, swim; to pour, wash |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | plew- | to fly, flow, run |
via Middle English overflowen
| 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 |