overwork

English

Etymology 1

From Middle English overwerken, from Old English oferwyrcean (“to overwork, overlay”), equivalent to over- +‎ work. Cognate with Dutch overwerken (“to overwork”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) enPR: ō'və-wûkʹ, IPA^(key): /ˌəʊvəˈwɜːk/
• (US) enPR: ō'vər-wûrkʹ, IPA^(key): /ˌoʊvɚˈwɝk/
• Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)k

Verb

overwork (third-person singular simple present overworks, present participle overworking, simple past and past participle overworked or overwrought)

1. (transitive) To make (someone) work too hard.

   to overwork a horse

2. (intransitive) To work too hard.
3. To fill too full of work; to crowd with labour.
   • Longfellow

     My days with toil are overwrought.

4. To decorate all over.

Translations

to work too hard

• Czech: přepracovat se
• German: sich überarbeiten (de)

• Polish: przepracowywać się

Etymology 2

From Middle English overwerc, from Old English oferweorc, oferġeweorc (“an overwork, superstructure, tomb”), equivalent to over- +‎ work.

Pronunciation

• (UK) enPR: ōʹvə-wûk', IPA^(key): /ˈəʊvəˌwɜːk/
• (US) enPR: ōʹvər-wûrk', IPA^(key): /ˈoʊvɚˌwɝk/

Noun

overwork (uncountable)

1. a superstructure
2. excessive work; overtime
   • 1878, Phosphorus in functional disorders of the nervous system, induced by overwork and other influences incidental to modern life

     Various disordered conditions consequent upon overwork, which are characteristic of modern civilisation.

   • 1996, Wilkie Au, Urgings of the Heart: A Spirituality of Integration

     When it comes to overwork, denial looms large.

   • 2003, Ernie J Zelinski, Joy of Not Working: A Book for the Retired, Unemployed, and Overworked

     The Japanese term for sudden death from overwork.

Translations

excessive work

• French: surmenage (fr) m

• Polish: przepracowanie n

See also

• overtime

External links

• overwork in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• overwork in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911

Anagrams

• work over