overman

American  

[oh-ver-muhn, oh-ver-man, oh-ver-man] / ˈoʊ vər mən, ˈoʊ vərˌmæn, ˌoʊ vərˈmæn /

noun

plural

overmen

1. a foreman, supervisor, or overseer.

2. a superman.

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verb (used with object)

overmanned, overmanning

1. to oversupply with men, especially for service.

   Indiscriminate hiring had overmanned the factory.

overman British  

verb

1. (tr) to supply with an excessive number of men

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noun

1. a man who oversees others

2. the Nietzschean superman

Etymology

Origin of overman

1200–1250; Middle English (noun); see over-, man

Example Sentences

The overwhelming tendency was to deploy one at the back and one in midfield, a 3-5-2 that allowed a side to overman in the centre of its defensive and midfield thirds.

From The Guardian • Feb. 21, 2017

The 36-year-old was an overman, the third in rank of the officers down the pit.

From BBC • Nov. 3, 2016

Only, instead of occupying public attention, the son of the old overman was the cause of trouble alone to the generally cheerful mind of Jack Ryan.

From The Underground City, or, the Child of the Cavern by Verne, Jules

“What do you think o’ that, lad?” said the overman coolly, relocking his lamp.

From Son Philip by Anonymous

The overman must have known as well as the other officials what was going on among the hands, but he preferred to see and hear nothing.

From Success and How He Won It by Werner, E. T. C. (Edward Theodore Chalmers)