pref.
- Above or upon in position: overpass; overcoat.
- Superior in rank or importance: overlord.
- To an inverted or reverse position: overturn.
- Excessively: overcharge.
[Middle English, from Old English ofer-.]
USAGE NOTE Many compounds other than those entered here may be formed with over-. In forming compounds, over- is joined with the following element without space or a hyphen: overachieve, overrepresented. Note, however, that over may combine with other words as a unit modifier. In such cases the words are joined by hyphens: over-the-counter medication.
