oversit

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To preside over, govern, rule; to control.
  2. To conquer, gain control or ownership of.
  3. To neglect, omit; to desist, refrain from, forbear.
  4. To spend too much time sitting.

Pronunciation

/ˌəʊvə(ɹ)ˈsɪt/ En-au-oversit.ogg

Word forms

oversit oversits oversitting oversat

Etymology

From Middle English oversitten (“to gain possession of”), from Old English ofersittan (“to occupy, possess; forbear”), from Proto-West Germanic *ubarsittjan (“to sit over, occupy, preside over”), corresponding to over- + sit. Cognate with Middle Low German ōversitten, ȫversitten (“to attend, partake; advise, discuss; miss”), Middle Dutch oversitten (“to overstay; meet about, discuss”), Middle High German übersitzen (“to sit across from, occupy; disregard, neglect; exceed, miss”).

Related words

This entry uses open data from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA/GFDL). Word forms are used for search and are not indexed as separate pages.