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overwrought - 5 dictionary results

o⋅ver⋅wrought

[oh-ver-rawt, oh-ver-]

–adjective

1.	extremely or excessively excited or agitated: to become overwrought on hearing bad news; an overwrought personality.

2.	elaborated to excess; excessively complex or ornate: written in a florid, overwrought style.

3.	Archaic. wearied or exhausted by overwork.

Origin:
1660–70; over- + wrought

Synonyms:
1. overexcited, worked up, wrought up, distracted, frantic.

[v. oh-ver-wurk; n. oh-ver-wurk]

–verb (used with object)

1.	to cause to work too hard, too much, or too long; weary or exhaust with work (often used reflexively): Don't overwork yourself on that new job.

2.	to work up, stir up, or excite excessively: to overwork a mob to the verge of frenzy.

3.	to employ or elaborate to excess: an appeal for sympathy that has been overworked by many speakers.

4.	to work or decorate all over; decorate the surface of: white limestone overworked with inscriptions.

–verb (used without object)

5.	to work too hard, too much, or too long; work to excess: You look as though you've been overworking.

–noun

6.	work beyond one's strength or capacity.

7.	extra or excessive work.

Origin:
bef. 1000; OE oferwyrcan. See over-, work

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Link To overwrought

o·ver·wrought (ō'vər-rôt')

adj.

Overwrought

O`ver*wrought\, p. p. & a. from Overwork. Wrought upon excessively; overworked; overexcited.

overwrought

"worked up to too high a pitch," 1825, lit. "over-worked," from over + wrought (q.v.).

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