overflowen

Middle English

Alternative forms

• ouerfluen, overflowe, overe flowen, over-flowyn

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

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

Verb

overflowen

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

Usage notes

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

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		—
plural2	overflowen, overflowe	overfloweden, overflowede, overflewen, overflewe
imperative plural	overfloweth, overflowe	—
participles	overflowynge, overflowende	overflowed, overflowen, overflowe

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

Descendants

• English: overflow

References

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