Author Topic: Overtread  (Read 1904 times)

ensiform

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Overtread
« on: July 02, 2012, 05:44:03 AM »
The June 29 game, for which the answer was Overrated, did not allow Overtread, which is is here:

http://www.onelook.com/?w=overtread
http://machaut.uchicago.edu/?resource=Webster%27s&word=overtread&use1913=on

and in the 4th to last para in this article

http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=150935

 

Alan W

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Re: Overtread
« Reply #1 on: June 11, 2016, 02:03:21 PM »
Most of the dictionaries that include overtread as a verb have sourced it from the 1913 Webster's Unabridged, which lists a lot of very ancient and obscure words, many of them too rare even for our rare list.

However dictionary.com has it as a noun, at the end of the entry for tread. No definition is given, but it may be something you can have on a tyre.

In any case, the verb overtread is to be found in the Shorter Oxford, which I feel is a good guide for our purposes. They say it's now rare, and has the meanings "Tread over, trample under foot; fig. oppress, subdue."

Most of the small number of examples I found are in little-known poetry from the 19th century or earlier. But ensiform gives us a link to a political article, and the OED gives an example from sporting journalism: "He helped out without ever overtreading the line between assistant and head coach." (1999, Morning Call, Allentown Pa.)

I'll add it as a rare word. The only inflected form short enough for us is the past tense overtrod. I'll add that too.
Alan Walker
Creator of Lexigame websites

ensiform

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Re: Overtread
« Reply #2 on: June 12, 2016, 10:59:29 AM »
Thanks Alan!