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overwrought

 - 6 dictionary results

o⋅ver⋅wrought

  [oh-ver-rawt, oh-ver-]
Use overwrought in a Sentence
–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.

o⋅ver⋅work

  [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.
Cite This Source Link To overwrought
o·ver·wrought   (ō'vər-rôt')   
adj.  

  1. Excessively nervous or excited; agitated.

  2. Extremely elaborate or ornate; overdone: overwrought prose style.

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

overwork  (v.)
"to cause to work too hard," 1530, from over + work (q.v.). O.E. oferwiercan meant "to work all over," i.e. "to decorate the whole surface of."

overwrought 
"worked up to too high a pitch," 1825, lit. "over-worked," from over + wrought (q.v.).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: over·work
Pronunciation: "O-v&r-'w&rk
Function: transitive verb
: to cause to work too hard, too long, or to exhaustionintransitive senses
: to work too much or too long —overwork noun
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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