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overbear

 - 3 dictionary results

o⋅ver⋅bear

  [oh-ver-bair] verb, -bore, -borne, -bear⋅ing.
Use overbear in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
1. to bear over or down by weight or force: With his superior strength he easily overbore his opponent in the fight.
2. to overcome or overwhelm: A spirited defense had overborne the enemy attack.
3. to prevail over or overrule (wishes, objections, etc.): She overbore all objections to the new plan.
4. to treat in a domineering way; dominate: to overbear one's children with threats of violence.
5. Nautical. (of a sailing ship) to have the advantage of (another sailing ship) because of an ability to carry more canvas safely.
–verb (used without object)
6. to produce fruit or progeny so abundantly as to impair the health.
Origin:
1525–35; over- + bear 1

Related forms:
o⋅ver⋅bear⋅er, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To overbear
o·ver·bear   (ō'vər-bâr')   
v.   o·ver·bore (-bôr', -bōr'), o·ver·borne (-bôrn'), o·ver·bear·ing, o·ver·bears

v.   tr.

  1. To crush or press down on with physical force.

  2. To prevail over, as if by superior weight or force; dominate.

  3. To be more important than; outweigh.

v.   intr.
To bear an overabundance of fruit or offspring.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

overbear 
1382, "to carry over," from over + bear (v.). Meaning "to bear down by weight of physical force" is from 1535 (in Coverdale), originally nautical, of an overwhelming wind; fig. sense of "to overcome and repress by power, authority, etc." is from 1565.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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