OVERMUCH

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does overmuch mean? 

• OVERMUCH (noun)
  The noun OVERMUCH has 1 sense:

1. a quantity that is more than what is appropriate

  Familiarity information: OVERMUCH used as a noun is very rare.

• OVERMUCH (adjective)
  The adjective OVERMUCH has 1 sense:

1. very great in quantity; overabundant

  Familiarity information: OVERMUCH used as an adjective is very rare.

• OVERMUCH (adverb)
  The adverb OVERMUCH has 1 sense:

1. more than necessary

  Familiarity information: OVERMUCH used as an adverb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• OVERMUCH (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A quantity that is more than what is appropriate

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

overabundance; overmuch; overmuchness; superabundance

Context example:

we received an inundation of email

Hypernyms ("overmuch" is a kind of...):

abundance; copiousness; teemingness (the property of a more than adequate quantity or supply)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "overmuch"):

excess; nimiety; surplus; surplusage (a quantity much larger than is needed)

glut; oversupply; surfeit (the quality of being so overabundant that prices fall)

bellyful (an undesirable overabundance)

• OVERMUCH (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Very great in quantity; overabundant

Context example:

showed overmuch affection

Similar:

much ((quantifier used with mass nouns) great in quantity or degree or extent)

Derivation:

overmuchness (a quantity that is more than what is appropriate)

• OVERMUCH (adverb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

More than necessary

Synonyms:

overmuch; too much

Context example:

let's not blame them overmuch

 Context examples 

White Fang had seen the camp-dogs toiling in the harness, so that he did not resent overmuch the first placing of the harness upon himself.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

And in the days to come there shall be shame upon the strong men who have eaten overmuch.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

I have overmuch need for your swords that you should turn them upon each other.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

By this time to-morrow you will, please God, have passed them, and have drunk of the sweet waters; so do not mourn overmuch.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

You know that ’e ain’t to be overmuch depended on at any time, and that ’e ’ad a grudge against your man ’cause ’e laid ’im out in the coach-’ouse.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“I would not give overmuch thought to it,” answered Alleyne.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

And no widow nor weak one shall cry in the night because there is no meat, when the strong men are groaning in great pain for that they have eaten overmuch.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

Between friends, there is overmuch of the hangman in him, and too little of the prince.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

It is for this that these men mortify their flesh, and to set us an example, who would pamper ourselves overmuch.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“I have overmuch to do,” Sir Nigel answered, “for we must be aboard, horse and man, as early as we may. How many do you muster, Sir Oliver?”

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)