Where does “overfullness” come from?

overfullness (English) comes from English overfull, from English Over-, 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.

overfullness (English): The state of being excessively or abnormally full

Definitions

  1. The state of being excessively or abnormally full

Ancestry of “overfullness”, step by step

overfullness traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English overfull

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishoverfullexcessively filled; full to overflowing; A full...
2EnglishOver-Above, or higher
3EnglishoverDiscontinued; ended or concluded; Thoroughly;...
4Middle Englishoverriverbank, seashore, brink
5Old Englishōferriverbank, seashore, brink, edge, margin, border
6Proto-West Germanicobarover, above
7Proto-Germanicuberover; over, above
8Proto-Indo-Europeanupérabove; over
9Proto-Indo-Europeanupóunder, below
10Proto-Indo-Europeanh₃ewp-

via English Ness

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishNessAn Ulster princess and the mother of Conchobar mac Nessa and Findchoem in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. Daughter of Eochaid Sálbuide. Also the mother of Cormac Cond Longas by incest with Conchobar mac Nessa
2Middle Englishnesse
3Old Englishnæsnot, not at all; not; first/third-person singular...
4Proto-Germanicnasjąfoothill; headland; cape
5Proto-Indo-Europeannéh₂snose
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₃ewp-
overfullness — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer