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overweening

[oh-ver-wee-ning]
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adjective
  1. presumptuously conceited, overconfident, or proud: a brash, insolent, overweening fellow.
  2. exaggerated, excessive, or arrogant: overweening prejudice; overweening pride.
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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.
  1. to be conceited or arrogant.
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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. 2018

Examples from the Web for overweening

Historical Examples

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • There is an overweening vanity about that man which is quite upsetting.

British Dictionary definitions for overweening

overweening

adjective
  1. (of a person) excessively arrogant or presumptuous
  2. (of opinions, appetites, etc) excessive; immoderate
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Derived Formsoverweeningly, adverboverweeningness, noun

Word Origin

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.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper