overmatch

English

Etymology

From Middle English overmacchen, equivalent to over- +‎ match.

Pronunciation

• (verb) IPA^(key): /ˌəʊvə(ɹ)ˈmætʃ/
• (noun) IPA^(key): /ˈəʊvə(ɹ)ˌmætʃ/

Verb

overmatch (third-person singular simple present overmatches, present participle overmatching, simple past and past participle overmatched)

1. (transitive, intransitive) To match more than intended.

   The regular expression overmatched, capturing the entire paragraph instead of the specific sentence.

2. To be more than equal to or a match for, to surpass; hence, to conquer, vanquish.
   • c. 1587–1588, [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. The First Part , 2nd edition, part 1, London: Richard Iones, , published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire, London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act II, scene i:

     And wel his merits ſhew him to be made
     His Fortunes maiſter, and the king of men.
     That could perſwade at ſuch a ſodaine pinch,
     With reaſons of his valour and his life,
     A thouſand ſworne and ouer-matching foes:

   • 1612, Michael Drayton, Poly-Olbion, song 7 p. 104:

     At Lemster, for her Wooll whose Staple doth excell,
     And seemes to over-match the golden Phrygian Fell.

3. To marry to a superior.
   • 1624, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy: , 2nd edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Printed by John Lichfield and James Short, for Henry Cripps, →OCLC:

     he must overmatch her above her birth and calling

Derived terms

• overmatched

Noun

overmatch (plural overmatches)

1. A match in which one opponent is greatly superior to the other.
   • 1748, David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding‎, Oxford ed., ¶13, published 2007:

     […] we can increase the velocity of that force, so as to make it an overmatch for its antagonist.

2. An opponent who is more than a match for another; one who cannot be defeated.

Antonyms

• undermatch

Translations