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overweening

[ oh-ver-wee-ning ]
/ ˈoʊ vərˈwi nɪŋ /
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR overweening ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

presumptuously conceited, overconfident, or proud: a brash, insolent, overweening fellow.
exaggerated, excessive, or arrogant: overweening prejudice; overweening pride.

RELATED WORDS

brash, cavalier, conceited, haughty, insolent, lordly, pompous, presumptuous, pushy, supercilious, vain, egotistical

Nearby words

overvoltage, overwatch, overwear, overweary, overween, overweening, overweigh, overweight, overwhelm, overwhelmed, overwhelming

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

Definition for overweening (2 of 2)

overween

[ oh-ver-ween ]
/ ˌoʊ vərˈwin /

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

British Dictionary definitions for overweening

overweening

/ (ˌəʊvəˈwiːnɪŋ) /

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

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.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper