o'erthrow

English

Verb

o'erthrow (third-person singular simple present o'erthrows, present participle o'erthrowing, simple past o'erthrew, past participle o'erthrown)

1. (poetic) Alternative form of overthrow
   • 1677, Tho[mas] d[’]Urfey, A Fond Husband: or, The Plotting Sisters. A Comedy: As it is Acted at His Royal Highness the Duke’s Theatre., London: […] T. N. for James Magnes and Rich. Bentley, […], page 61:

     Now the mighty Sophiſtreſs is o’erthrown!

   • 1712, The Rape of the Lock by Alexander Pope, quotee, “A Key to the Lock”, in Law is a Bottomless Pit. Or, the History of John Bull., page 240:

     Ev’n mighty Pam, that Kings and Queens o’erthrew,
     And mow’d down Armies in the Fights of Lu,
     Sad Chance of War! now deſtitute of Aid,
     Falls undiſtinguiſh’d⁠⸺

   • 1761, R[obert] Lloyd, An Epistle to C. Churchill, Author of the Rosciad, London: […] William Flexney, […], pages 7–8:

     But if vile Rancour, from (no Matter who)
     Actor, or Mimic, Printer, or Review,
     Lies oft o’erthrown with ceaſeleſs Venom ſpread,
     Still hiſs out Scandal from their Hydra Head,
     If the dull Malice boldly walk the Town,
     Patience herſelf wou’d wrinkle to a Frown.