Etymology

overgive

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Today it means: To give too lavishly. Full definition →

First used 15th c.
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The story

From over- + give. Compare Scots overgie (“to relinquish, resign”), Dutch overgeven (“to surrender”), German übergeben (“to hand over, surrender”), Danish overgive (“to surrender”).

First known use, by meaning

  • from 15th c. To give over, hand over, surrender; to relinquish.
  • 16th–17th c. To give up, terminate.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.