verb
- simple past tense of overbear.
verb (used with object), o·ver·bore, o·ver·borne, o·ver·bear·ing.
- to bear over or down by weight or force: With his superior strength he easily overbore his opponent in the fight.
- to overcome or overwhelm: A spirited defense had overborne the enemy attack.
- to prevail over or overrule (wishes, objections, etc.): She overbore all objections to the new plan.
- to treat in a domineering way; dominate: to overbear one’s children with threats of violence.
- Nautical. (of a sailing ship) to have the advantage of (another sailing ship) because of an ability to carry more canvas safely.
verb (used without object), o·ver·bore, o·ver·borne, o·ver·bear·ing.
- to produce fruit or progeny so abundantly as to impair the health.
verb -bears, -bearing, -bore or -borne
- (tr) to dominate or overcometo overbear objections
- (tr) to press or bear down with weight or physical force
- to produce or bear (fruit, progeny, etc) excessively
v.late 14c., “to carry over,” from over- + bear (v.). Meaning “to bear down by weight of physical force” is from 1535 (in Coverdale), originally nautical, of an overwhelming wind; figurative sense of “to overcome and repress by power, authority, etc.” is from 1560s.