overpress

English

Etymology

From over- +‎ press.

Verb

overpress (third-person singular simple present overpresses, present participle overpressing, simple past and past participle overpressed)

1. (transitive) To bear upon (someone or something) with irresistible force; to crush, to overwhelm.
   • 1609, William Shakespeare, “Sonnet 139”, in Shake-speares Sonnets. […], London: By G[eorge] Eld for T[homas] T[horpe] and are to be sold by William Aspley, →OCLC, signature I, verso:

     Deare heart forbeare to glance thine eye aſide, / VVhat needſt thou vvound vvith cunning vvhen thy might / Is more then my ore-preſt defence can bide?

     An adjective use.

   • c. 1607–1608, William Shakeſpeare, The Late, And much admired Play, Called Pericles, Prince of Tyre. […], London: Imprinted at London for Henry Goſſon,  […], published 1609, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene ii]:

     overpress'd spirits

2. (transitive) To overcome by importunity.

Further reading

• “overpress”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.