Overcome
/ˌoʊvərˈkʌm/noun
To defeat, master, or succeed in dealing with something difficult.
Did you know?The verb comes from Old English and originally meant to physically get the better of someone by coming over them, with the “defeat” sense developing from that embodied image.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*gʷem-
“to come, go”
Old English
OE
ofercuman
“to come over, arrive above, prevail against”
Middle English
ME
overcome
“to get the better of, defeat; also to overwhelm”
Early Modern English
English
overcome
“to overpower, conquer, or be overcome by emotion or force”
Modern English
English
overcome
“to defeat, master, or succeed in dealing with something difficult”