overact

verb

Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *úp Proto-Indo-European *-er Proto-Indo-European *upér Proto-Germanic *uber Old English ofer- Middle English over- English over- Latin agō Latin ācta Old French actbor. Middle English acte English act English overact From over- + act.

1. To act in an exaggerated manner.

   “He overacted his part.”

   “If governments overact and become oppressive, the terrorists will have won, for their theory is that repression will eventually lead to revolution.”

2. To act upon, or influence, unduly.

   “The hope of inheritance overacts them.”

   “The χαμολνία, Humicubation, lying upon ground, &c. which things have been overacted, and still are in the Greek and Roman Churches.”