overweening

[oh-ver-wee-ning]

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adjective

presumptuously conceited, overconfident, or proud: a brash, insolent, overweening fellow.

exaggerated, excessive, or arrogant: overweening prejudice; overweening pride.

Origin of overweening

1300–50; Middle English overwening(e) (gerund); see overween, -ing²

Related formso·ver·ween·ing·ly, adverbo·ver·ween·ing·ness, noun

overween

[oh-ver-ween]

verb (used without object) Archaic.

to be conceited or arrogant.

Origin of overween

1275–1325; Middle English overwenen; see over-, ween

Related formso·ver·ween·er, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for overweening

Historical Examples of overweening

Nor does his attempt fail from any overweening or blindness, in himself.
A Dish Of Orts
George MacDonald
It may have been Milburgh's overweening faith in his own genius.
The Daffodil Mystery
Edgar Wallace
And have you, young lady, any of that overweening prejudice in favour of your own island?
The Two Admirals
J. Fenimore Cooper
Of overweening egotism Pattison himself at any rate had none.
Critical Miscellanies (Vol. 3 of 3)
John Morley
There is an overweening vanity about that man which is quite upsetting.
The Struggles of Brown, Jones, and Robinson
Anthony Trollope

British Dictionary definitions for overweening

overweening

adjective

(of a person) excessively arrogant or presumptuous

(of opinions, appetites, etc) excessive; immoderate

Derived Formsoverweeningly, adverboverweeningness, noun

Word Origin for overweening

C14: over- + weening, from Old English wēnan: see ween

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for overweening

adj.

mid-14c., from present participle of verb overwenen "be conceited, presume, be presumptuous, be over-confident," from Old English oferwenian "to be proud, become insolent or presumptuous;" see over- + ween.