Where does “overrule” come from?

Overrule comes from Middle English overrulen, combining the prefix over- with Middle English reule from Old French reule, ultimately from Latin regula meaning a straightedge or standard.

overrule (English): To rule over; to govern or determine by superior...

Definitions

  1. To rule over; to govern or determine by superior...

Ancestry of “overrule”, step by step

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

Words derived from “overrule

Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₃ewp-Every word from Proto-Indo-European upóEvery word from Proto-Indo-European upér