Where does “overstrength” come from?

overstrength (English) comes 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, from Proto-Indo-European upó, from Proto-Indo-European h₃ewp-.

overstrength (English): Having personnel in excess of that prescribed by...

Definitions

  1. Having personnel in excess of that prescribed by...

Ancestry of “overstrength”, step by step

overstrength traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English over

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

via English strength

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishstrengthThe quality or degree of being strong; The...
2Middle Englishstrengthestrength; Alternative form of strengthen
3Old Englishstrengþuphysical strength; power to do; force; vigour;...
4Proto-West Germanicstrangiþustrength
5Proto-West Germanicstrangsevere, strict, rigorous; strong
6Proto-Germanicstrangaztight, strict, straight; strong
7Proto-Indo-Europeanstrengʰ-to twist; rope, cord
8Proto-Indo-Europeanster-sterile, infertile
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₃ewp-Every word from Proto-Indo-European upóEvery word from Proto-Indo-European upér
overstrength — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer