overseer

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English

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Etymology

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From oversee +‎ -er.

Pronunciation

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Noun

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overseer (plural overseers)

  1. One who oversees or supervises.
    1. (historical) The manager of a plantation of slaves.
      • 1855, Frederick Douglass, chapter 3, in My Bondage and My Freedom. [], New York, Auburn, N.Y.: Miller, Orton & Mulligan [], →OCLC:
        It is often deemed advisable to knock a man slave down, in order to tie him, but it is considered cowardly and inexcusable, in an overseer, thus to deal with a woman.
    2. (historical) An officer responsible for the care of the poor, making out lists of voters and those who had not paid taxes, etc.
  2. (obsolete) A critic.

Synonyms

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Derived terms

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Descendants

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  • Sranan Tongo: basya
  • Dutch: officier

Translations

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