overweening

[ oh-ver-wee-ning ]

adjective

1. presumptuously conceited, overconfident, or proud:

   a brash, insolent, overweening fellow.

2. exaggerated, excessive, or arrogant:

   overweening prejudice; overweening pride.

overweening

/ ˌəʊvəˈwiːnɪŋ /

adjective

1. (of a person) excessively arrogant or presumptuous
2. (of opinions, appetites, etc) excessive; immoderate

Derived Forms

• ˌoverˈweeningness, noun
• ˌoverˈweeningly, adverb

Other Words From

• over·weening·ly adverb
• over·weening·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of overweening¹

1300–50; Middle English overwening ( e ) (gerund); overween, -ing ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of overweening¹

C14: over- + weening, from Old English wēnan: see ween

Example Sentences

It may have been Milburgh's overweening faith in his own genius.

From Project Gutenberg

And have you, young lady, any of that overweening prejudice in favour of your own island?

From Project Gutenberg

His overweening conduct gradually made his position at Berlin untenable.

From Project Gutenberg

I have been,' said James Dutton to me at the last interview I had with him, 'all my life an overweening self-confident fool.

From Project Gutenberg

The Hanseatic League had long been offended at their overweening pride; and it now left them and removed its factory to Antwerp.

From Project Gutenberg