Overhear
/ˌəʊ.vəˈhɪər/noun
To hear something unintentionally or without the speaker’s knowledge.
Did you know?The word is built from Old English elements meaning “over” and “hear,” making its original sense essentially “hear from above” or “hear without being directly addressed.”
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*uper
“Over, above, or beyond”
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ḱlew-
“To hear; also associated with being heard or renowned”
Old English
Old English
oferhīeran
“To hear from above or hear beyond the immediate speaker”
Middle English
Middle English
overheren
“To hear unintentionally or secretly”
16th Century
English
overhear
“To hear what was not intended for one’s ears”
Modern English
English
overhear
“To hear something accidentally or without the speaker’s knowledge”