overset

[ verb oh-ver-set; noun oh-ver-set ]

verb (used with object)

, o·ver·set, o·ver·set·ting.

1. to upset or overturn; overthrow.
2. to throw into confusion; disorder physically or mentally.

verb (used without object)

, o·ver·set, o·ver·set·ting.

1. to become upset, overturned, or overthrown.
2. Printing.
   1. (of type or copy) to set in or to excess.
   2. (of space) to set too much type for.

noun

1. the act or fact of oversetting; upset; overturn.
2. Also called overmatter. Printing. matter set up in excess of space.

overset

verb

1. to disturb or upset
2. printing to set (type or copy) in excess of the space available

noun

1. another name for overmatter

Other Words From

• over·setter noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of overset¹

1150–1200; Middle English oversetten; over-, set

Example Sentences

“Yes,” thought Elizabeth, “that would be a delightful scheme indeed, and completely do for us at once. Good Heaven! Brighton, and a whole campful of soldiers, to us, who have been overset already by one poor regiment of militia, and the monthly balls of Meryton!”

From Literature

“They take advantage of things you might do. In college you might overset or you might be too long with your outside hand punch. In the NFL, they take advantage of everything you do that might not be correct.”

From Seattle Times

“The guard overset on me, so I spun back inside, and with some pressure by Mel on the backside, it made him step back,” Philon said of Driskel.

From Los Angeles Times

Because the golden part is brighter, and in the center, it looks overset until you get close to the surface.

From New York Times

On Instagram, Diesel shared a shot of he and Walker with overset text reading, “Brotherhood has no limits.”

From Time

Related Words

• alter
• annul
• dismantle
• invalidate
• lift
• modify
• nullify
• overrule
• overturn
• quash
• repeal
• rescind
• revoke
• set aside
• undo