overflowen

Middle English edit

Alternative forms edit

ouerfluen, overflowe, overe flowen, over-flowyn

Etymology edit

From Old English oferflōwan; equivalent to over- +‎ flowen.

Pronunciation edit

IPA^(key): /ɔːvərˈflɔu̯ən/, /ɔvərˈflɔu̯ən/

Verb edit

overflowen

To overflow; to cause flooding or immerse in water.
(rare) To flow in profuse or excessive quantities.
(rare) To exist in profuse or great quantities.

Usage notes edit

The simple past of this verb is usually weak, but the past participle shows a tendency to be strong (compare flowen, which is usually weak throughout)

Conjugation edit

Conjugation of overflowen (weak in -ed or strong class 7)

infinitive	(to) overflowen, overflowe
	present tense	past tense
1st-person singular	overflowe	overflowed, overflew
2nd-person singular	overflowest	overflowedest, overflewe, overflew
3rd-person singular	overfloweth	overflowed, overflew
subjunctive singular	overflowe	overflowed¹, overflewe¹
imperative singular	overflowe	—

plural²	overflowen, overflowe	overfloweden, overflowede, overflewen, overflewe
imperative plural	overfloweth, overflowe	—

participles	overflowynge, overflowende	overflowed, overflowen

¹Replaced by the indicative in later Middle English.
²Sometimes used as a formal 2nd-person singular.

Descendants edit

English: overflow

References edit

“overflouen, v.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-11-12.