overapply

English

Etymology

From over- +‎ apply.

Verb

overapply (third-person singular simple present overapplies, present participle overapplying, simple past and past participle overapplied)

1. (transitive) To apply to excess.
   • 1999, Steven Pinker, Words and Rules: The Ingredients of Language:

     German speakers, like English speakers, are prone to overapplying the weak suffix (-t) to irregular verbs, resulting in errors.