overapply

overapply

English

Etymology

    From over- + apply.

    Verb

    overapply (third-person singular simple present overapplies, present participle overapplying, simple past and past participle overapplied)

    1. (transitive) To apply to excess.
      • 1999, Steven Pinker, Words and Rules: The Ingredients of Language:
        German speakers, like English speakers, are prone to overapplying the weak suffix (-t) to irregular verbs, resulting in errors.