overwell

comparative more overwell · superlative most overwell

1. Overly well.

   I remember my father saying that a wise man should always mistrust a girl who kisses overwell.

   1899, Samuel Rutherford Crockett ·, The Black Douglas, page 127

   2 more examples

   In my own case, as I was saying, I not only pay the fare of my clerk and his family from Colorado, but I have had an assistant with him constantly since I have been here, and a great deal of the time I have had a third assistant, and yet I have not felt myself overwell served, though I have the most efficient clerk in Congress; nor do I believe there is a Member of this House that believes he is overwell served by services he has from one clerk.

   1911, United States. Congress, Congressional Record, page 418

   Boadicea seemed to be hesitating for a moment, whilst Sir Baldwin remained coldly neutral, determined not to interfere again in women's affairs; his interference not having succeeded overwell hitherto.

   1912, Baroness Emmuska Orczy, Meadowsweet, page 304

comparative more overwell · superlative most overwell

1. Overly healthy and robust.

   Shankaran is not overwell. Mira seems to have become ill on the high altitude and is due in Birla House tomorrow.

   2000, Mahatma Gandhi, The Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi - Volume 76, page 35

   2 more examples

   I don't think him overwell. He is more worried than I like to see him by his small enemies – the fleas of Farringford- Woodford.

   1988, Henry Graham Dakyns, Audrey Tennyson, Lady Audrey Georgina Florence Boyle Tennyson, Letters to a Tutor, page 24

   The GOP also devoted considerable attention to 'invalid' girls and chronic cases, those who were 'never overwell', tired, subject to low spirits, aches and pains, and who had little inclination for exercise.

   2013, H. Marland, Health and Girlhood in Britain, 1874-1920, page 174

present singular third person overwells · participle present overwelling · participle past overwelled · past overwelled

1. To overflow.

   Shishaldin on Unimak Island was "flaming high" May 28, 1929, and glowing matter overwelled the edge of the crater and rolled down the slopes;

   1932 March 2, The Volcano Letter, page 267

   2 more examples

   Then sit in silence down, and brooding dwell, Through the slow years, on all we loved, and tell Each tone, each look of love, each syllable, With lips that work, with eyes that overwell!

   1864, Frederick Goddard Tuckerman, Poems, page 218

   Then, after going round a little, with surprise of daylight, the water overwelled the edge, and softly went through lines of light to shadows and an untold bourne.

   1869, R[ichard] D[oddridge] Blackmore, chapter XIX, in Lorna Doone: A Romance of Exmoor. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), London: Sampson Low, Son, & Marston, […], →OCLC

2. To experience such strong emotion that it cannot be contained.

   How his heart so proudly overwells!

   1906, Private Concerts, page 19

   4 more examples

   When he himself has stubbed a toe, The other overwells with woe.

   1946, Robert Peter Tristram Coffin, Poems for a Son with Wings, page 86

   And there was Miss Brindle, poor girl, sad amidst the general joy. My heart overwelled just to look at her.

   1965, Warren Miller, The Siege of Harlem, page 34

   May we look to those wild places of contradiction where we are at once overwelling with the sweet nectar of hope and cracked by the driest apathy and dusty hopelessness.

   2020, Danielle Dulsky, Seasons of Moon and Flame, page 302

   As an artist Norm was overwelled by the colors, Kathy just stood silently taking at all in.

   2022, Jay Fullum ·, IALFs, Humans, and RAHs, page 295

3. To fill with a crescendo of sound.

   The heavy-throated cannon-song of battle boomed and swelled, Roared louder, lifted mightier, overwelled!

   1898 May, Edwin Ford Piper, “Poem”, in The Kiote, volume 1, number 4, page 85

   2 more examples

   Thorns sing a carol of Soft May-snows; The young laburnum Overwells, With peals of bloom from Inaudible bells;

   1902, Roden Noel, The Collected Poems of Roden Noel, page 354

   The overwelling laughter of the black incubus had ceased, and he turned upon the intruders a face contorted by diabolic lust and fury.

   2007, Clark Ashton Smith, The Black Abbot of Puthuum

4. To flow over; to overrun.

   The Reptilian army quickly overwelled the natives and took the small planet as their own.

   2022, C. L. Frazier, Galaxies: Farewell Earth

   2 more examples

   The flames overwelled and he made a dash for the door where this Kodizia was grunting like a pig.

   1991, Ositadinma Adeolu Nnanyelugo Olusanya Ike, Surprise Party: An Anthology of Short Stories, page 60

   The crowds on the street that night were overwelling and it was a variable sea of black and everybody was there, Red Rolly, Bertah from Biloxi, Arty Shaw, Wild Bill Latura, Chuck the Knife, Axle Concertina, Styx, Sam, all the women you ever bedded, your cousin Lampedusa, the Greenville Gang, and that Lup Garou from the Clubs, skulking around, and it was quite a site.

   2019, Bryan Furuness, My Name Was Never Frankenstein