overthwartadj.n.
/ˈəʊvəθwɔːt/, U.S. /ˈoʊvərˌθwɔrt/ Now English regional (northern)† B. n.
A. adj.† 1. † 3. figurative. Indirect. Cf. overthwartly adv. 3. Obsolete. rare.
a. Placed or lying crosswise or across something else; transverse. Obsolete. overthwart toll n. a toll levied on goods conveyed between certain points.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > fact or condition of being transverse > [adjective]
overthwart1228
thwart-overa1387
transversaryc1400
thwart1404
thwartingc1430
transversalc1440
transversantc1440
traversea1450
thorter1488
cross1523
overthwarting1552
traversed1561
traversing1561
transverse1621
overcrossa1661
transverseda1711
crossway1865
crosswise1903
1228 in N. S. B. Gras Early Eng. Customs Syst. (1918) 155 Ad dominum de Torkeseye pertinet thourthtoll' et overthuerttoll' inter locos subscriptos.
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Ecclus. xxiv. 41 I..helde out floodis; I as an ouerthwert wei [L. trames] of water withoute mesure fro þe flood..wente out fro paradis.
c1400 (?c1380) Cleanness (1920) 1384 And þiker þrowen umbeþor wyth overþwert palle.
?a1425 (c1400) Mandeville's Trav. (Titus C.xvi) (1919) 6 (MED) The ouerthwart pece [of the Cross] was of palme.
1469 in R. R. Sharpe Cal. Let.-bks. London (1912) L. 84 [A weir] overthwartwere.
1545 T. Raynald in tr. E. Roesslin Byrth of Mankynde i. sig. E Nominatyd the ouerthwart muskles, in latin: musculi transuersi.
?c1550 tr. P. Vergil Eng. Hist. (1846) I. ii. 72 Suetonius..camm throughe an overthwarte waye to London as to a place of safetie.
1577 W. Harrison Hist. Descr. Islande Brit. ii. x. f. 84v/2, in R. Holinshed Chron. I An ouerthwart post in their walles, whereunto they fasten their Splintes or radles.
1623 T. Scott High-waies of God 8 Two crosse or ouerthwart wayes.
a1642 H. Best Farming & Memorandum Bks. (1984) 59 Puttinge into everie cocke three overthwart rowes of rakings.
1665 J. Webb Vindic. Stone-Heng (1725) 7 So hath he the Architraves by two several Terms, viz. overthwart Pieces, and Cronets.
1712 Philos. Trans. 1710–12 (Royal Soc.) 27 27 I had..an opportunity of seeing some Pleuritick blood; and thought, that its Branches spread in a differing Method from the sound, and more strongly perplex'd with overthwart Branches.
1796 J. Morse Amer. Universal Geogr. (new ed.) II. 112 The transomes, or over-thwart stones [at Stonehenge], are quite plain.
b. Oblique, slanting, skew. Cf. overthwartly adv. 2b. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > inclination > [adjective]
embelifc1400
inclining?c1400
oblique?a1425
inclinate?1440
hieldingc1480
inclined?a1500
bias1551
overthwart1594
sidelong1598
squinty1598
skew1609
traverse1609
skewed1611
obliquous1614
squint1703
inclinated1751
slanting1768
slanted1770
slant1776
aslant1791
diagonal1796
rakish1830
slantindicular1832
slantwise1856
slaunchways1913
slanty1928
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) Ezek. (Douce 369(1)) xl. 16 And he maad..wyndowis ouerthwert [a1425 L.V. naraw with out and large with ynne; L. obliquas], in chaumbris and in frountis of hem.
a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll.) 305 At the laste, at an ovirtwarte stroke sir Bewmaynes with his horse strake the Grene Knyghtes horse uppon the syde.
1594 T. Blundeville Exercises iv. Introd. f. 206 There is another great stooping and ouerthwart Circle, called the Ecliptique line.
1597 R. Johnson 2nd Pt. Famous Hist. Seauen Champions xv. sig. Bb2 One of them stroake an ouerthwart blow with his trusty sword vpon his knee.
c. Situated opposite. Frequently in overthwart neighbour. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > opposite position > [adjective]
contraryc1384
oppositec1392
contrariousc1400
contradictorious?a1475
objecta1542
overthwart1555
oppositive1578
opposed1598
opposing1609
adverse1623
obversea1656
counter-placed1678
opponent1728
counter1842
subtending1860
abapical1866
1555 R. Eden Of North Regions in tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde f. 264v The soonne leaueth those regions, and goth by the contrarye or ouerthwarte circle towarde the south in wynter.
1607 T. Dekker & J. Webster West-ward Hoe v. sig. H4v Hon. How do's my wife M. Monop. Mono. Who? my ouerthwart neighbour: passing well.
1608 Merry Deuill of Edmonton l. 1305 Mine ouerthwart neighbour hath done this to seduce my blind customers.
c1634 in J. O. Halliwell Palatine Anthol. (1850) Suppl. 31 Yet did he billet us at his overthwart neighbours.
1692 J. Dryden Cleomenes v. ii. 65 We whisper, for fear our over-thwart Neighbours Should hear us cry, Liberty.
2. figurative. Contentious, contrary; perverse, amiss; argumentative; hostile, unfriendly.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > difficulty > opposition > [adjective]
contrariousc1290
contraryinga1340
contrary1340
adversarya1382
overthwartc1384
contrairc1400
contrariantc1400
adverse1418
repugnantc1443
thwarting1530
pugnant1537
opposite1577
haggard1578
impugnant1579
kim-kam1582
antagonist1591
adversative1595
counter1596
opposing1597
antipathetical1601
thwart1601
aversed1609
aversive1609
adversarious1622
averse1623
antipathousa1625
inimicitious1641
opponent1641
negative1642
gainstanding1674
antithetic1753
opposed1784
oppositional1829
transversive1855
oppositionary1905
the mind > will > decision > obstinacy or stubbornness > [adjective] > perverse
wharfedc1175
thwart-over?c1225
fromwardc1275
thwarta1325
wilgernc1325
contrariousa1340
froward1340
rebours1340
awaywarda1375
overthwartc1384
protervec1384
waywardc1384
arsewardc1386
wrawc1386
wrawfulc1386
crabbeda1400
ungraitha1400
wraweda1400
awklyc1400
perversec1425
awkc1440
perversiosec1475
crooked1508
wrayward1516
awkward1530
difficilec1533
peevish1539
protervous1547
overthwarting1552
untowardly1561
difficult1589
cross1594
cama1600
frowish1601
awkwardish1613
haggardly1635
pigheadeda1637
cross-grained1647
wry1649
crossfulc1680
thwarting1718
kim-kama1734
wronghead1737
piggish1742
witherly1790
top-thrawn1808
contrary1850
cussed1858
three-cornered1863
thwarteous1890
bloody-minded1935
c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) 2 Tim. iii. 4 Traitours, proterue, or ouerthwert [v.r. ouerwhert; L. protervi] bollun with proude thouȝtis.
c1400 Simonie (Peterhouse) (1991) l. 463 Whan God Almyȝty seth þe world is ouerþwart, He..makeþe us to smart.
?1435 in C. L. Kingsford Chrons. London (1905) 31 (MED) He seyd opynly, with a sterne chere and ouertwert, that his lawes weren in his mouthe..And that he allone myht chaunge the Lawes off his Rewme and make newe.
c1450 Jacob's Well (1900) 155 (MED) Frowardnes comyth fro þe herte, but þe tunge schewyth it out thrugh ouerthwerte woordys.
c1475 tr. C. de Pisan Livre du Corps de Policie (Cambr.) (1977) 58 (MED) The men of armes..pille the contre..whiche is a gret myscheif and an ovirwharte ordenaunce.
c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy 1960 Nestor..Onswaret hym angerly with Awthwert wordis.
1552 R. Huloet Abcedarium Anglico Latinum Preposterouse, out of order, ouerthwarth, transuerted, or last done which should haue ben first.
1605 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Deuine Weekes & Wks. ii. ii. 255 Then, all spake the speech Of God himself..But Since that pride, each people hath a-part A bastard gibberish, harsh, and overthwart.
1609 S. Daniel Civile Wares (rev. ed.) i. xxvi. 8 Of a spirit averse, and ouer-thwart.
1702 Clarendon's Hist. Rebellion I. i. 64 That overthwart [1888 §174 thwartover] humour was enough discover'd to rule in the breasts of many.
1868 J. C. Atkinson Gloss. Cleveland Dial. 365 Overquart, Overthwart,..perverse, contrary, contradictory or contentious.
1928 A. E. Pease Dict. Dial. N. Riding Yorks. 90/2 Ah's sewer sha war that owerquaart Ah cud dee nowt wiv her, sae Ah telt her ti get hersel oot o' ma rawd.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > literature > style of language or writing > obscurity > [adjective] > vague or inexplicit
oblique?a1475
overthwart1545
indirect1584
slenting1642
undeterminate1649
vaguea1661
wide1662
indeterminate1773
unexplicit1775
nebulose1799
imprecise1805
misty1816
nebulous1817
inexplicit1827
fuzzy1937
soft-focused1942
wifty-wafty1943
1545 R. Ascham Toxophilus i. f. 41 You wyl haue some ouertwhart reson to drawe forthe more communication withall.
1656 Earl of Monmouth tr. T. Boccalini Ragguagli di Parnasso 440 [They] take impious and over-thwart revenge of even those that would not be secure.
1.
a. A transverse direction. at an overthwart, in (also by, to) overthwart: in a transverse direction, crosswise, across. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > direction > specific directions > [phrase] > transversely and longitudinally > transversely
at an overthwart?a1425
?a1425 tr. Guy de Chauliac Grande Chirurgie (N.Y. Acad. Med.) f. 154v In maner of kuttyng comon veynez by lengthe, particuler veynez by transuerse, i. ouerthwert.
1485 Malory's Morte Darthur (Caxton) vii. xvii. sig. n.vii The reed knyghte..at an ouerthwart smote hym within the hand.
a1500 Legend of Cross in Medium Ævum (1965) 34 222 (MED) Whan it was brought to the place of Caluarie, therof they made a Cros to the Lord, of vii cubites in length havyng, and in travers or ouerthwert of the hed havyng iii cubites.
1562 W. Turner 2nd Pt. Herball f. 86v Phu..hath litle rootes growyng to ouerthwart.
b. A transverse passage or byway; a transverse line. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > fact or condition of being transverse > [noun] > anything lying transversely > a line
overthwart1580
society > travel > means of travel > route or way > way, path, or track > [noun] > going across
cross-way1480
thorter way1488
overthwart1580
1580 Will in Gentleman's Mag. Sept. (1861) 258 I leave my eldest sonn..also the newe overthwarte in the cittie of Corcke, and all the lands east of it to the Queenes walls.
1611 J. Donne Anat. World sig. B2 To finde out..Such diuers downe-right lines, such ouerthwarts, As disproportion that pure forme.
c. The point opposite another specified point. Obsolete. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > opposite position > [noun] > that which or one who is opposite in position > opposite point
oppositec1385
counterpoint1599
overthwart1674
1674 N. Fairfax Treat. Bulk & Selvedge 92 It cannot be meted by a streight line drawn from it to its overthwart.
2.
a. An adverse experience; an adversity or misfortune; a check or setback. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > difficulty > hindrance > types or manners of hindrance > [noun] > hindering or retarding > a set-back
overthwart1513
setback1669
put-backa1697
counter-step1720
back-set1722
backcast1818
throwback1856
1513 J. Skelton I am now Constrayned in Compl. Eng. Poems (1983) 121 35 He skantly loveth our kyng,..That cast such overthwartes.
a1547 Earl of Surrey Poems (1964) 34 A hart well stayd, in overthwartes depe Hopeth amendes.
c1576 T. Whythorne Autobiogr. (1961) 143 I wold be siur to prevent azmuch az [in] mee did ly, þe proposterus and froward overthwarts þat miht happen to mee in tȳm to kum.
1587 Sir P. Sidney & A. Golding tr. P. de Mornay Trewnesse Christian Relig. xxvi. 463 The ouerthwarts that Abraham indured for Sara his wife in Aegipt.
a1628 F. Greville Alaham iii. iii, in Certaine Wks. (1633) 48 I feare the cariage: it hath many parts. And Hazards courses may finde ouerthwarts.
b. Contradiction; a rejoinder or rebuff. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > testing > refutation, disproof > [noun] > instance of
confutationa1535
rejarg1534
rejag?1554
overthwart?1567
counter-proof1610
confute1646
disproof1657
rebutter1794
?1567 M. Parker Whole Psalter xxxiv. 86 Keepe ye hys tong from ouerthwart.
1591 J. Lyly Endimion iii. i. sig. D4 What haue we heare.., these vnseemely and malepart ouerthwarts? I will tame your tongues..and make your speeches answerable to your dueties.
1595 A. Copley Wits Fittes & Fancies 147 For these wittie ouerthwarts the Gent. entertain'd the boy into his seruice.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2004; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
overthwartv.
/ˌəʊvəˈθwɔːt/, U.S. /ˌoʊvərˈθwɔrt/ Now rare.† 2.
1. † b. transitive. To pervert; to overturn. Obsolete. rare.
a. transitive. To act in opposition to; to cross, oppose; to hinder, thwart. Also (occasionally) intransitive.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > difficulty > opposition > oppose [verb (transitive)]
withgo743
to go again ——OE
withsayc1175
again-goc1275
withsitc1300
thwarta1325
to go against ——a1382
counter1382
repugnc1384
adversea1393
craba1400
gainsaya1400
movec1400
overthwart?a1425
to put (also set) one's face againsta1425
traversea1425
contrairc1425
to take again ——c1425
contraryc1430
to take against ——a1450
opposec1485
again-seta1500
gain?a1500
oppone1500
transverse1532
to come up against1535
heave at1546
to be against1549
encounter1549
to set shoulder against1551
to fly in the face of1553
crossc1555
to cross with1590
countermand1592
forstand1599
opposit1600
thorter1608
obviate1609
disputea1616
obstrigillate1623
contradict1632
avert1635
to set one's hand against1635
top1641
militate1642
to come across ——1653
contrariate1656
to cross upon (or on)1661
shock1667
clash1685
rencounter1689
obtend1697
counteract1708
oppugnate1749
retroact?1761
controvert1782
react1795
to set against ——1859
appose-
?a1425 tr. Guy de Chauliac Grande Chirurgie (N.Y. Acad. Med.) f. 3 (MED) Leue he noȝt aside þe accidentez, ffor why som tyme þay ouercome her cause and ouerthwarteþ [?c1425 Paris trespasse aȝen; L. preuaricant] and peruerteþ al þe Cure.
a1450–1500 ( Libel Eng. Policy (1926) 782 (MED) Oure enmyes so gretely done prevayle That what harme may falle and overthwerte [v.rr. overthwarde, overtwarte, overwhert], I may unneth wrytte more for sore of herte.
a1529 J. Skelton Ware the Hauke (1843) 230 He sayde, for a crokid intent The wordes were paruerted: And this he ouerthwarted.
1571 R. Edwards Damon & Pithias l. 1614 Shall we now breake the bondes of Amitie? Will you now ouerthwart mee, whiche heretofore so well did agree.
1582 R. Mulcaster 1st Pt. Elementarie xiii. 78 When a writer taketh a wrong principle.., where..practis must confirm the mean, which he conceaueth, is it anie maruell if the vse of a tung ouerthwart such a mean, which is not conformable vnto it?
1611 J. Speed Hist. Great Brit. vii. xviii. 331/1 They..endeuoured to ouerthwart and gainsay whatsoeuer he proposed.
1618 D. Belchier Hans Beer-Pot l. 184 Women, Haue oft such reason, for their wilfulnesse, When as they ouerthwart their too kind husbands.
a1640 W. Fenner 3 Serm. (1648) 62 Sinne may be said to be civilized, when it is overwharted by a higher principle.
1877 P. J. Bailey Festus (ed. 10) xliii. 668 One last and worst, Attempt to o'erthwart God's just design.
1937 John o' London's Weekly 5 Feb. 761/2 My parents were for ever overthwarting me, both on 'em. Always to school I had to go till I was twelve, and to church I had to go regular as clockwork.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > destroy [verb (transitive)] > overthrow or overturn
to-warpc888
overwarpeOE
fallOE
cumber1303
overthrowc1375
overturna1382
subverta1382
overwalta1400
sinka1400
to wend downa1400
tuyrec1400
reverse1402
tirvec1420
pervert?a1425
to put downa1425
cumrayc1425
downthringc1430
overthwart?a1439
thringc1480
subvertise1484
succumb1490
renverse1521
precipitate?1528
everta1538
wrake1570
ruinate1590
profligate1643
wreck1749
a1439 J. Lydgate Fall of Princes (Bodl. 263) ii. 3744 A woluysh thrust to sheede manys blood, Which ouertwhertid..His roial corage into tirannye.
1656 T. Blount Glossographia Pervert, to overthwart, to turn upside down; to subvert, corrupt, destroy, &c.
a. transitive. To pass or lie across; to cross, traverse. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > fact or condition of being transverse > lie across [verb (transitive)]
thwart1413
transverse1430
overcrossa1450
overthwartc1450
traverse1555
cross1577
intercourse1597
transit1890
the world > space > direction > specific directions > direct in specific directions [verb (transitive)] > extend across (something)
transverse1430
overcrossa1450
overthwartc1450
traverse1481
cross1577
society > morality > moral evil > moral or spiritual degeneration > degrading or impairing morally > degrade or impair morally [verb (transitive)] > pervert or deprave
bicharrea1100
crooka1340
subvertc1384
pervertc1425
traverse1438
overthwartc1450
perversec1475
deprave1482
crooken1552
preposterate1566
depravate1847
c1450 (?c1408) J. Lydgate Reson & Sensuallyte (1901) 4786 I..Gan to crosse dovne and dale And ouer-twerten hille and vale.
a1475 (?a1430) J. Lydgate tr. G. Deguileville Pilgrimage Life Man (Vitell.) 12078 At wyketys or wyndowys..Overthwertyd wyth no latys.
1545 T. Raynald in tr. E. Roesslin Byrth of Mankynde i. sig. F.iv The one embrasynge, compassyng and ouerthwarting thother.
1552 in W. Page Inventories Church Goods York, Durham & Northumberland (1897) 31 Two tunacles of whyt bustian..overthuarde withe read vorsted.
1600 Bk. of Robes f. 6v, in J. Arnold Queen Elizabeth's Wardrobe Unlock'd (1988) 253 Purple vellat st[r]onge overthwart with small cheines like a flagon cheine.
a1618 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Diuine Weekes & Wks. (1621) ii. iv. 463 Their Dance, so quick and lively-light, Doth never pass the Baldricks bounds (at all) Which grav'n with Star-Beasts over-thwarts the Hall.
1832 Ld. Tennyson Œnone in Poems (new ed.) 58 Her clear and barèd limbs O'erthwarted with the brazenheaded spear Upon her pearly shoulder leaning cold.
1835 E. S. Wortley Village Churchyard 234 E'en now through my lulled mind doth pass—Like shapes that overthwart some wizard's glass—A mute procession of mysterious things.
b. transitive. To lie across, or place something across, so as to block the way; to obstruct. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > closed or shut condition > close or shut [verb (transitive)] > close by obstruction or block up > block the way or a passage
forsetc900
withseta1300
stop13..
speara1325
withsperre1330
to stop one's way1338
shut1362
forbara1375
beseta1400
stopc1400
precludea1513
interclude1526
to shut up1526
forestall1528
fence1535
hedge1535
quar1542
foreclose1548
forestop1566
to flounder up1576
obstruct1578
bar1590
retrench1590
to shut the door in (also upon) (a person's) face1596
barricade1606
barricado1611
thwartc1630
blocka1644
overthwart1654
rebarricado1655
to choke up1673
blockade1696
embarrass1735
snow1816
roadblock1950
1654 tr. M. Martini Bellum Tartaricum 135 These places might have been easily defended if they had but..overthawrted the ways by any incumbrances.
1720 in T. D'Urfey Wit & Mirth VI. 89 If the Seas should overthwart him, He would swim to the Shore.
c. transitive. To plough across. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > cultivation or tillage > breaking up land > ploughing > plough (land) [verb (transitive)] > cross-plough
cross-ploughc1644
overthwart1667
thwart1847
to cut back1858
cross1859
1667 N. Fairfax Let. 5 Dec. in H. Oldenburg Corr. (1967) IV. 12 After ye crop be off they let it ly till Feb. or Mar. following, yn 1st. they plow it back again. 2ly. overthwart it.
1764 Museum Rusticum (1765) 3 lxxiv. 320 Ploughing up the tare land,..Overwarting another clean earth.
Derivatives
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > fact or condition of being transverse > [adjective]
overthwart1228
thwart-overa1387
transversaryc1400
thwart1404
thwartingc1430
transversalc1440
transversantc1440
traversea1450
thorter1488
cross1523
overthwarting1552
traversed1561
traversing1561
transverse1621
overcrossa1661
transverseda1711
crossway1865
crosswise1903
the mind > goodness and badness > wrongdoing > leading astray > [noun]
perversiona1450
overthwarting1552
seducing1561
seducement1586
society > society and the community > dissent > quarrel or quarrelling > [noun]
sakea1000
chestc1000
pleac1275
threapa1300
noisec1300
checkc1330
debate1340
chopping1377
controversyc1384
briguea1398
tuilyieing1444
quarrellingc1460
lite1493
frayinga1500
falling out1539
square1545
overthwarting1552
mutiny1567
squaring1579
debatement1590
swaggeringa1596
quarrel1605
simultation1605
warbling1632
barrating1635
throwing1897
the mind > will > decision > obstinacy or stubbornness > [adjective] > perverse
wharfedc1175
thwart-over?c1225
fromwardc1275
thwarta1325
wilgernc1325
contrariousa1340
froward1340
rebours1340
awaywarda1375
overthwartc1384
protervec1384
waywardc1384
arsewardc1386
wrawc1386
wrawfulc1386
crabbeda1400
ungraitha1400
wraweda1400
awklyc1400
perversec1425
awkc1440
perversiosec1475
crooked1508
wrayward1516
awkward1530
difficilec1533
peevish1539
protervous1547
overthwarting1552
untowardly1561
difficult1589
cross1594
cama1600
frowish1601
awkwardish1613
haggardly1635
pigheadeda1637
cross-grained1647
wry1649
crossfulc1680
thwarting1718
kim-kama1734
wronghead1737
piggish1742
witherly1790
top-thrawn1808
contrary1850
cussed1858
three-cornered1863
thwarteous1890
bloody-minded1935
society > morality > moral evil > moral or spiritual degeneration > degrading or impairing morally > [noun] > action of perverting
perversiona1450
overthwarting1552
warping1608
the world > food and drink > farming > cultivation or tillage > breaking up land > ploughing > [noun] > cross-ploughing
overthwarting1552
thwarting1847
1552 R. Huloet Abcedarium Anglico Latinum Ouerthwartynge, peruicatia, pravitas.
1552 R. Huloet Abcedarium Anglico Latinum Ouerthwartynge knaue, perperus.
1576 A. Fleming tr. Isocrates in Panoplie Epist. 175 Libertie of overthwarting in language and unseemely contradiction.
1616 T. Gainsford Rich Cabinet sig. Z vj All quarrelling, wrangling, and ouerthwarting must be auoided.
1632 W. Lithgow Totall Disc. Trav. ix. 421 Their..heads are..couered with ouerthwarting strokes of crooked shables.
1661 Tom Tyler & his Wife 19 How like ye now this last overthwarting?
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2004; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
overthwartprep.adv.
/ˌəʊvəˈθwɔːt/, U.S. /ˌoʊvərˈθwɔrt/α. Middle English auerthward (in a late copy), Middle English auerthwert (in a late copy), Middle English aurthewert (in a late copy), Middle English aurthwart (in a late copy), Middle English awrthwert (in a late copy), Middle English awterwart (in a late copy), Middle English orthward, Middle English orthwart, Middle English ouerethwerte, Middle English oueretwarde, Middle English ouereþwart, Middle English ouereþwerte, Middle English ouerþewert, Middle English ouerthawrte, Middle English ouerthewert, Middle English ouerthrweter (transmission error), Middle English ouerthuert, Middle English ouerthuerte, Middle English ouerthward, Middle English ouerthwert, Middle English ouerthwerte, Middle English ouerþhwerte, Middle English ouerthwerth, Middle English ouerþuert, Middle English ouerþuerte, Middle English ouertward, Middle English ouerþward, Middle English ouertwarde, Middle English ouerþwart, Middle English ouertwert, Middle English ouerþwert, Middle English ouertwerte, Middle English ouerþwerte, Middle English ouertwhart, Middle English ouertwherte, Middle English ourethwerte, Middle English ourthewarde, Middle English ourthruerte (transmission error), Middle English ourthuert, Middle English ourthwarde, Middle English ouyrthwart, Middle English ouyrthwert, Middle English ouyrtwart, Middle English overthart, Middle English overthawrte, Middle English overthewrt, Middle English overthuert, Middle English overthward, Middle English overthwert, Middle English overtwarte, Middle English overtwert, Middle English overþwert, Middle English ovirthwart, Middle English ovirtwart, Middle English ovirtwarte, Middle English ovrthruert (transmission error), Middle English ovyrethwert, Middle English ovyrthwert, Middle English–1500s ouerthart, Middle English–1500s ouerthwarde, Middle English–1500s ouerthwarte, Middle English–1500s ouertwart, Middle English–1500s overthwarte, Middle English–1600s orethwart, Middle English–1600s ouerthwart, Middle English– overthwart, 1500s ortwharte, 1500s ouertharte, 1500s ouerthwarth, 1500s ouertwarte, 1500s ovartwarte, 1500s overthwarth, 1500s overthwort, 1600s ouerthawt, 1600s ouerthuart, 1600s overtwhart; English regional 1700s 1900s– o'erthwart (midlands), 1800s overtwart (Suffolk), 1800s– owerthwaart (Yorkshire), 1800s– owerthwart (Yorkshire), 1900s– ovverthwart (Yorkshire); also Scottish pre-1700 ouerthort, pre-1700 ouerthorte, pre-1700 ouerthrowart, pre-1700 ouertwerd, pre-1700 ouirthort, pre-1700 ouirthorte, pre-1700 ourethort, pre-1700 ourethorte, pre-1700 ourethwort, pre-1700 ourthort, pre-1700 ourthourt, pre-1700 ourthourth, pre-1700 ourthowrt, pre-1700 ourthuort, pre-1700 ou'rthwart, pre-1700 ourthwort, pre-1700 overthort, pre-1700 overthorte, pre-1700 overthuart, pre-1700 owirthort, pre-1700 owrthort, pre-1700 owrthowrt, pre-1700 owrthwort; N.E.D. (1904) also records a form Middle English ouertharte.
β. Middle English ouerqvert, Middle English ouerqwert, Middle English ouerwerte, Middle English ouerwhert, Middle English ouerwherte, Middle English overhwarte, Middle English overwhert, Middle English ovirwharte, Middle English ovyrwharte, Middle English–1500s ouerwharte, 1500s orewharte, 1500s ouerwhart, 1500s–1600s overwhart; English regional 1700s–1800s overquart, 1700s– overwart, 1800s overwhart (East Anglian), 1800s– o'erwart (midlands), 1800s– overwarth (Bedfordshire), 1800s– overwort (East Anglian), 1800s– owerquaart (Yorkshire), 1800s– owerquart (Yorkshire); Scottish pre-1700 ouerwhort, pre-1700 ouirhort, pre-1700 ourequhort, pre-1700 oureqwort, pre-1700 overwhart.
Now archaic and English regional (chiefly midlands, East Anglian, and northern).
A. prep.† 2. Opposite; facing. Obsolete.
1. From side to side of; so as to cross; across, athwart. Now archaic and English regional.
ΚΠ
1228 in N. S. B. Gras Early Eng. Customs Syst. (1918) 158 Illi qui transeunt Ourethwerte Neuton Laghtterton, ex parte orientali, de Holdehagh Marton Lee More debent solvere ibi teoloneum suum set.
c1380 Sir Ferumbras (1879) 3721 Ys body was tornd ouer-thwart [Fr. en travers] þe way.
c1392 Equatorie of Planetis 24 (MED) Draw swich another lyne ouerthwart the barre fro the hed of cancer to the hed of capricorn.
c1425 Edward, Duke of York Master of Game (Vesp. B.xii) (1904) 48 (MED) Men shal take þe hounde..and hoolde fast his fowre feet and put a staf ouer wherte is mouthe bicause þat he shuld not bite.
a1450 ( G. Chaucer Treat. Astrolabe i. §5 1 Overthwart [v.r. Overthwert] this forseide longe lyne, ther crossith him another lyne.
1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) iv. l. 234 A loklate bar was drawyn ourthourth the dur.
a1500 (?c1450) Merlin 653 A knyght..be-gan to prike ouer-thwert [Fr. trauers] the felde.
1551 R. Robinson tr. T. More Vtopia sig. Kiv That table standeth ouer wharte the ouer ende of the halle.
1583 P. Barrough Methode of Phisicke i. xxxi. 40 Cause him to sitte ouerthwarte a stoole in ryding fashion.
1631 J. Mabbe tr. F. de Rojas Spanish Bawd i. 17 A small quantity of Balsamum she had in a little viall, wherwith she cured that scotch giuen her ouerthwart her nose.
1663 B. Gerbier Counsel to Builders 43 Lay Bridges overtwhart the Joyses.
1716 A. Hill Fatal Vision iii. 33 The Road which leads to Menan, Lies just o'erthwart its [sc. the mountain's] Brow.
1736 N. Bailey Dict. Domesticum 116 Cut it into collars overthwart both the sides.
1892 M. C. F. Morris Yorks. Folk-talk 349 Overquart,..he ran owerquart t' clooas.
1899 J. Davidson Last Ballad 55 Overthwart the lists A vagrant bee twanged like an airy lyre.
1946 J. Masefield Tale of Troy 771 One third of us Sulked in the tents, yes, even while the Trojans Stormed over-thwart the wall to burn the ships.
a1993 R. Kelly Bk. of Kings in Red Actions (1995) 68 Crimson bordered our dream, the moon overthwart the sea.
ΚΠ
1588 R. Parke tr. J. G. de Mendoza Comm. Notable Thinges in tr. J. G. de Mendoza Hist. Kingdome of China 353 They..twentie leagues ouerthwart the port.
a1592 R. Greene Comicall Hist. Alphonsus (1599) i. sig. B3v Dost thou know the man, That doth so closely ouerthwart vs stand?
1630 J. Wadsworth Eng. Spanish Pilgrime (new ed.) iii. 15 Disputing..in two pewes one ouerthwart the other.
3. On the far or opposite side of; beyond. Now English regional.
ΚΠ
1785 W. Cowper Task i. 169 Far beyond, and overthwart the stream..The sloping land recedes into the clouds.
1854 A. E. Baker Gloss. Northants. Words II. 72 He lives o'erwart the way.
1881 S. Evans Evans's Leicestershire Words (new ed.) 204 A lives joost o'er-wart the wee.
B. adv.† 2. figurative. Adversely; contrarily; wrongly, perversely; in a cross or ill-tempered manner. Obsolete.† 4. Scottish. Here and there; all about, all over. Obsolete.
1.
a. From side to side; so as to cross something; across, athwart; crosswise, transversely. Now English regional. to plough overthwart: to plough at right angles to the former furrows.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > fact or condition of being transverse > [adverb]
overthwartc1300
thwarta1350
thwart-over1398
overthwartly?a1425
traversec1425
thorter1488
thwartly?1541
traversely?1541
traversewise1548
cross1577
thwartingly1579
crosswise1580
thwartwise1589
overthwartwise1594
crossly1598
traverseways1610
athwart1611
crossway1611
transversely1650
overthwartways1656
transverse1660
crossways1665
thwartways1665
transversally1762
criss-cross1843
athwart-wise1868
the world > space > direction > specific directions > [adverb] > in transverse direction
thereoverc897
overwardc1300
acrossa1350
out-overa1400
overthwartly?a1425
a-travers1430
overcrossa1525
thwartlong1600
transversely1650
transverse1660
transversally1762
overthwart1764
athwart1879
c1300 Havelok (Laud) (1868) 2822 And demden him to binden faste Vp-on an asse..Andelong, nouht ouer-þwert.
c1330 (?c1300) Guy of Warwick (Auch.) 4781 (MED) Ouer-þuert þat swerd glod & to-clef him wiþouten abod.
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add.) f. 253v Þe kuttynge schal be aslope bytwene two knottes..and nouȝt euene ouerthwarte [L. obligue].
?a1425 (c1400) Mandeville's Trav. (Titus C.xvi) (1919) 6 The pece [of the Cross] þat wente ouerthwart.
1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) viii. 172 Thre dykis ourthwort he schar, Fra bath the moss to the vay.
1490 W. Caxton tr. Foure Sonnes of Aymon (1885) ix. 238 They..layed hym vpon a lityll horse overhwarte, like as a sacke of corne.
1569 in Court Minutes Surrey & Kent Sewer Comm. (London County Council) (1909) 46 My Lord vicount Mountague to cut & make the Sewer coursynge ouerthwarte downe a slade to the hyghe waye.
1600 P. Holland tr. Livy Rom. Hist. i. xiii. 10 Then the Sabine dames,..hauing thrust themselues violently overthwart betweene them, began to part these bloodie armies.
c1660 in Rep. MSS D. Milne Home (1902) 221 They ar..compelled to put their toues in at..gates puting trees overthuart to ty ther toues at.
1692 tr. Sallust Wks. 168 The Yoke was two Spears fixed in the Ground, and a third fastened overthwart from one to the other, like a Gallows.
1733 W. Ellis Chiltern & Vale Farming ii. 37 In June harrow it down and bout it the same way; in July hack it overthwart, or bout it up across.
1764 Museum Rusticum (1765) 3 lxxiv. 321 Third ploughing, ribbling it overwart.
1854 A. E. Baker Gloss. Northants. Words II. 72 The gooseberry trees shoot so overwart, the gardener is obliged to cut a deal of the wood away.
1892 E. Anglian Daily Times 72 We plough our summer-land fields overthwart.
1960 G. E. Evans Horse in Furrow x. 130 For the third earth you crossed it: that means you ploughed it across or overwart (overthwart) as we called it.
1970 G. E. Evans Where Beards wag All vi. 66 Then we used to drill it overwart (athwart the furrows).
b. overthwart and endlong, (also) endlong and overthwart: crosswise and lengthwise, in breadth and length, transversely and longitudinally. Also figurative: all over, throughout. Cf. endlong adv. 2. Now archaic and rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > direction > specific directions > [phrase] > transversely and longitudinally
overthwart and endlongc1385
the world > relative properties > wholeness > completeness > completely [phrase]
high and low1397
every (also ilk, ilka) stick?a1400
root and rind?a1400
hair and hide?c1450
stout and routc1450
bane and routc1480
overthwart and endlonga1500
(in) hide and hairc1575
right out1578
horse and footc1600
flesh and fella1616
root and branch1640
stab and stow1680
stoop and roop1728
stick, stock, stone dead1796
rump and stump1824
stump and rump1825
rump and rig1843
good and1885
c1385 G. Chaucer Knight's Tale 1991 The dore was al of athamant eterne Yclenched ouerthwart [v.rr. ouer thward, ouertwert, ouereþwart] and endelong With iren togh.
1417 in J. Raine Vol. Eng. Misc. N. Counties Eng. (1890) 13 (MED) We..awarde..that the same Thomas Bernard hafe all the alde stuffe of lede that lay thare before, endelang and overthwart.
a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll.) 718 Sir Helyus..drove sir Palomydes ovirtwarte and endelonge all the fylde.
a1500 (a1460) Towneley Plays (1994) I. xii. 108 He saue you and me, Ouertwhart and endlang.
1543 ( Chron. J. Hardyng (1812) 85 (MED) Ioseph conuerted this kyng Aruigarus..And gaue hym then a shelde of siluer white, A crosse endlong and ouertwhart full perfect.
1865 W. S. Banks List Provinc. Words Wakefield Owerthwart, across.
1892 Jrnl. Amer. Geogr. Soc. N.Y. 24 118 Mr. Paul Macey, in a communication..describes the results of his two years' exploration, endlong and overthwart, in the Indo-Chinese peninsula.
1896 W. Morris Well at World's End xxi The wall..was some seven feet high, and the pound within the wall of forty feet space endlong and overthwart.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > wrongdoing > leading astray > [adverb]
overthwarta1382
awklyc1440
seducingly?1594
athwart1598
seducedly1642
pervertedly1804
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > disregard for truth, falsehood > lack of truth, falsity > [adverb] > in a wrong way, amiss
on missc1225
overthwarta1382
a-crookc1500
awrya1513
wide?1529
astray1535
across1559
bias1600
outa1641
beside the bridge1652
on the wrong side of the post1728
abroad1806
off1843
way off1882
off beam1941
up the boohai?1946
the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > disadvantage > [adverb] > unfavourably
illc1325
contrariouslyc1380
amissa1425
contrary1497
sinisterly1529
overthwart1556
thwartingly1579
froward1580
adversely1593
crossly1597
unpropitiously1602
cross1603
disfavourably1654
cloudily1792
unfavourably1833
askew1858
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1961) Lev. xxvi. 21 Ȝif ȝe goon ouertward [a1425 L.V. contrarie; L. ex adverso] to me..y shal adde-to ȝoure venyaunces.
c1390 Talkyng of Love of God (Vernon) (1950) 40 (MED) Þi self stoppest my foos and makest hem to sturte. And so me witerliche witest euer while i dwelle, of heore ferliche affrayes þat comen ouerþhwerte.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 12084 At him [sc. Jesus] had he..envi..Wit iosep wordes spak ourthuert, Wordes spak he o despite.
?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) (1996) i. 2312 Þat word toke he ille to hert. He vnderstode it alle ouerthuert.
a1450 Generides (Pierpont Morgan) (1865) 2104 And answerd the king ful ouertwert.
1534 tr. G. Savonarola Expos. li. Psalme sig. D.iiiv With the wycked shalte thou playe ouertwarte.
1556 J. Heywood Spider & Flie xxxiii. 19 Run thei right: run thei ouertharte, Out wyll I powre them.
3. Opposite. Now English regional (rare). Perhaps Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > opposite position > [adverb]
anenteOE
theregainsc1330
aforyena1400
overa1400
overthwarta1425
fornent1548
overright against1565
oppositelyc1593
opposite1609
over-right1618
squarely1802
en regard1909
a1425 (c1385) G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde (1987) iii. 685 Here at this closet dore withoute, Right overthwart, youre wommen liggen alle.
1596 E. Spenser Second Pt. Faerie Queene iv. x. sig. K5 And her before was seated ouerthwart Soft Silence, and submisse Obedience. View more context for this quotation
1881 S. Evans Evans's Leicestershire Words (new ed.) 207 Over-thwart, adv. across; opposite; over the way.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > arrangement or fact of being arranged > state of being scattered or dispersed > [adverb] > here and there or in various places
to and froc1440
overthwarta1522
sundrywhere1548
somewhere1563
a1522 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid (1959) vi. ix. 150 Befor Tantalus..The goldin trestys schynand standis ourthwort.
1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1888) I. 211 S. Palladie Bischope, and vthires..ouirthort [L. sparsim] in his kingdome, he promouet thame to steddings and feildes.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2004; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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adj.n.1228v.?a1425prep.adv.1228- universal maid
- universal mathematics
- universal negative
- universal product code
- universal provider
- universal quantifier
- unholpen
- unholy
- unhomed
- unhomelike
- unhomelikeness
- unhomeliness
- unhomely
- unhomish
- unhomogeneity
- unhomogeneous
- unhone
- unhonest
- unhonestly
- unhonesty
- unhonored
- unhonour
- unhonourable
- unhonourably
- unhonoured