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overcome

verb

  1. succeed against barriers
L12283 on Wikidata ↗

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /ˌəʊ.vəˈkʌm/ / /ˌoʊ.vəɹˈkʌm/ / /ˌəʉ.vəˈkɐm/

adj

Etymology: Inherited from Middle English overcomen, inherited from Old English ofercuman (“to overcome, subdue, compel, conquer, obtain, attain, reach, overtake”). By surface analysis, over- + come. Cognate with Dutch overkomen, German überkommen, Danish overkomme, Swedish överkomma.

  1. That has been overcome, prevailed over.

noun

Etymology: Inherited from Middle English overcomen, inherited from Old English ofercuman (“to overcome, subdue, compel, conquer, obtain, attain, reach, overtake”). By surface analysis, over- + come. Cognate with Dutch overkomen, German überkommen, Danish overkomme, Swedish överkomma.

  1. The burden or recurring theme in a song.
  2. A surplus.

verb

Etymology: Inherited from Middle English overcomen, inherited from Old English ofercuman (“to overcome, subdue, compel, conquer, obtain, attain, reach, overtake”). By surface analysis, over- + come. Cognate with Dutch overkomen, German überkommen, Danish overkomme, Swedish överkomma.

  1. To surmount (a physical or abstract obstacle); to prevail over, to get the better of.

    But sith this wretched woman ouercome / Of anguish, rather then of crime hath beene,

    By and by fumes of brandy began to fill the air, and climb to where I lay, overcoming the mouldy smell of decayed wood and the dampness of the green walls.

  2. To prevail.

    Hee that ouercommeth, the same shalbe clothed in white raiment, and I will not blot out his name out of the booke of life, but I will confesse his name before my Father, and before his Angels.

    We shall overcome because Carlyle is right; "no lie can live forever".

  3. To recover from (a difficulty), to get over.
  4. To win against or prevail over in some sort of battle, contest, etc.

    to overcome enemies in battle

    Ther with all cam kyng Arthur but with a fewe peple and slewe on the lyfte hand and on the ryght hand that wel nyhe ther escaped no man / but alle were slayne to the nombre of xxx M / And whan the bataille was all ended the kynge kneled doune and thanked god mekely / and thenne he sente for the quene and soone she was come / and she maade grete Ioye of the ouercomynge of that bataille

  5. To come or pass over; to spread over.

    I was overcome with anger.

    And overcome us like a summer's cloud.

  6. To overflow; to surcharge.

    A Crop so plenteous, as the Land to load, O'ercome the crowded Barns

    Th' unfallow'd Glebe Yearly o'ercomes the Granaries with Store Of Golden Wheat.