overly

overly
overly
The use of overly in place of the prefix over-, e.g. overly confident instead of over-confident, is still regarded as an Americanism although it is well established in British usage:

• That same novel is now with Macmillan. I am not ‘overly’ hopeful —Barbara Pym, 1977

• Fitzpatrick's male adversary is an impassioned, overly emotional man —Times, 1985

• She is not overly cheerful about the future of British drama —M. Geare, 1993.

It is interesting to note how frequently overly is used in the context of feelings or emotions.

Modern English usage. 2014.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Overly — Overly, ND U.S. city in North Dakota Population (2000): 19 Housing Units (2000): 10 Land area (2000): 0.357669 sq. miles (0.926358 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 0.357669 sq. miles (0.926358 sq …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Overly, ND — U.S. city in North Dakota Population (2000): 19 Housing Units (2000): 10 Land area (2000): 0.357669 sq. miles (0.926358 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 0.357669 sq. miles (0.926358 sq. km) FIPS… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • overly — o ver*ly, adv. 1. In an overly manner. [Archaic] [1913 Webster] 2. Excessively. [PJC] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Overly — O ver*ly, a. 1. Careless; negligent; inattentive; superfical; not thorough. [Archaic] Bp. Hall. [1913 Webster] 2. Excessive; too much. [R.] Coleridge. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • overly — index unduly Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • overly — (adv.) excessively, O.E. oferlice (see OVER (Cf. over)) …   Etymology dictionary

  • overly — [adv] excessively ever, exceedingly, extremely, immensely, immoderately, inordinately, over, overfull, overmuch, too, too much, too too*, unduly, very much; concept 544 Ant. inadequately, insufficiently …   New thesaurus

  • overly — ► ADVERB ▪ excessively …   English terms dictionary

  • overly — [ō′vər lē] adv. [ME ouerly, ouerliche: see OVER & LY2] too or too much; excessively …   English World dictionary

  • overly — adv. Overly is used with these adjectives: ↑academic, ↑ambitious, ↑anxious, ↑broad, ↑bureaucratic, ↑cautious, ↑complicated, ↑confident, ↑conservative, ↑critical, ↑cynical, ↑ …   Collocations dictionary

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