Overtime
/ˈoʊvərˌtaɪm/noun
Time worked beyond the regular or scheduled work period.
Did you know?The phrase is a straightforward English compound, but its power comes from the older, almost spell-like idea of 'over' as excess and transgression — crossing a limit rather than just adding minutes.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
ofer
“over, above, beyond”
Old English
OE
tīma
“time, a period or season”
Middle English
ME
over time
“beyond the usual time; extra duration”
19th Century
English
overtime
“time worked beyond the standard hours”
Modern English
English
overtime
“extra hours worked, usually paid at a higher rate”