Where does “overreaction” come from?
Overreaction derives from English over- combined with reaction, which comes from Latin reactio (a driving back), from Latin re- (back) and actus (driven), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European h₂eǵ- (to drive or move).
overreaction (English): A reaction that is excessive
Definitions
- A reaction that is excessive
Ancestry of “overreaction”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | reäction | Rare spelling of reaction |
| 2 | Middle English | reaccion | — |
| 3 | Old French | reaction | — |
| 4 | Latin | reactio | reaction |
| 5 | Latin | reago | I act upon again, I do again; I react |
| 6 | Latin | rĕ- | — |
| 7 | Latin | prōdūcō | — |
| 8 | Latin | prō- | — |
| 9 | Proto-Italic | *pro- | — |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | pro- | toward, forward |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | por- | to give birth; forward, through; going, passage |
| 12 | Proto-Indo-European | per- | before, in front; first; to go through |
| 13 | Proto-Indo-European | pr̥tós | passed , crossed |