overdo

Etymology

From Middle English overdon, from Old English oferdōn, equivalent to over- +‎ do

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˌəʊ.vəˈdu/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˌoʊ.vəɹˈdu/
• Homophone: overdue (US, some dialects)

Verb

overdo (third-person singular simple present overdoes, present participle overdoing, simple past overdid, past participle overdone)

1. To do too much; to exceed what is proper or true in doing; to exaggerate; to carry too far.
   • Shakespeare

     Anything so overdone is from the purpose of playing.

2. To overtask or overtax; to fatigue; to exhaust.

   to overdo one's strength

3. To surpass; to excel.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Tennyson to this entry?)

4. To cook too much.

   to overdo the meat

References

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

Anagrams

• do over, do-over, doover