- overdo
- O.E. oferdon "to do too much," from ofer "over" + don "to do." Common Gmc. (cf. O.H.G. ubartuan). Meaning "to overtax, exhaust" (esp. in phrase to over do it) is attested from 1817. Of food, "to cook too long," first recorded 1683 (in pp. adj. over done).