overlook etymology

Etymology:

• Middle English: overlooken, from over- + looken ("to look at")
• Old English: oferlōcian

Meaning:

• To have a view or command over something
• To watch or supervise
• To have charge or control over
• To disregard or neglect
• To fail to notice

Origin:

The verb "overlook" is derived from the Middle English word "overlooken," which combines the prefix "over-" (meaning "above" or "in excess") with the verb "looken" (meaning "to look at"). The prefix "over-" indicates that the action of looking is performed from a superior position or with a wider perspective.

The original sense of "overlook" was "to look down upon something from a higher position," as in a castle overlooking a town. Over time, the meaning of the word expanded to include other senses, such as "to watch over," "to have charge of," and "to disregard or neglect."

The phrase "overlook something" in the sense of "to fail to notice" is a later development, dating from the 16th century. It likely originated from the idea of looking over something without paying attention to it.

overlook relate terms

• look

  Etymology Old English lōcian to see Proto West Germanic lōkijanan Proto Germanic

• overhear

  Etymology The word overhear is a compound word made up of the following elements ov

• over

  Etymology The word over derives from the Middle English over which in turn stems fr

• hear

  Etymology Old English hieran meaning to listen Proto Germanic hausjan from the

• overlook

  Etymology Middle English overlooken from over looken to look at Old English o

• over

  Etymology The word over derives from the Middle English over which in turn stems fr

• oversee

  Etymology Over Old English ofersēon from ofer over sēon see See Old Engl

• dominate

  Etymology The word dominate comes from the Latin word dominari which means to mast

• command

  Etymology The word command comes from the Old French word commander which is derive

• probe

  Etymology The word probe comes from the Latin word probare which means to test exa

• pardon

  Etymology The word pardon comes from the Old French word pardonner which itself come

• rule

  Etymology Derived from the Old French word reule which in turn comes from the Latin

• prod

  Etymology Latin prodere meaning to betray to expose Old French proder prower me

• drop

  Etymology From Middle English droppe from Old English dropa ddropa drop small porti

• survey

  Etymology French survoir to look over oversee Meaning A method of gathering