Old English ofersteppan "to step over or beyond; cross, exceed;" see over- + step (v.). From the beginning used in figurative senses. Related: Overstepped; overstepping.

"to supply in excess of what is wanted, to glut," 1640s, from over- + stock (v.). Related: Overstocked; overstocking. The noun, "superabundance," is attested by 1710.

also over-strain, 1580s, transitive, "exert to an injurious degree," from over- + strain (v.). Intransitive sense of "strain or strive to excess" is by 1703. Related: Overstrained; overstraining.

"too powerful, too harsh," c. 1200, originally of medicines and remedies, from over- + strong (adj.).

also over-strung, 1767 of musical instruments, "with strings too tense;" 1801, of persons, "too sensitively organized," from over- + strung. In the figurative extension, the notion is the one in the colloquial expression wound too tight. As a type of piano with string sets crossing each other obliquely, by 1860.

also over-stuffed, of furniture, "completely covered with a thick layer of stuffing," 1883, from over- + past participle of stuff (v.).

also over-supply, "a supply in excess of demand," 1833, from over- + supply (n.). As a verb by 1865. Related: Oversupplied; oversupplying.

early 14c., "open; unfastened" (originally literal, of clothing, a book, etc.; this sense is now obsolete), from Old French overt (Modern French ouvert), past participle of ovrir "to open," from Latin aperire "to open, uncover," from PIE compound *ap-wer-yo- from *ap- "off, away" (see apo-) + root *wer- (4) "to cover." Compare Latin operire "to cover," from the same root with PIE prefix *op- "over;" and Lithuanian atverti "open," užverti "shut." The meaning "clear, open or plain to view, manifest, revealed" is from late 14c.

"to come up to, catch up with, catch in pursuit," early 13c., from over- + take (v.). According to OED, originally "the running down and catching of a fugitive or beast of chase"; the editors find the sense of over- in this word "not so clear." The meaning "take by surprise, come on unexpectedly" (of storms, night, misfortune) is from late 14c. Related: Overtaken; overtaking. Old English had oferniman "to take away, carry off, seize, ravish."

1640s, "to demand too much of," from over- + tax (v.). Meaning "to levy taxes beyond what is equitable or reasonable, to tax heavily or excessively" is by 1823. Related: Overtaxed; overtaxing.