Subscriber login


Forgot your password?

Library card login

Other

overwrought

Syllabification: (o·ver·wrought)
Pronunciation: /ˈōvəˈrôt/
Translate overwrought | into German | into Italian
Definition of overwrought

adjective

  • 1in a state of nervous excitement or anxiety:she was too overwrought to listen to reason
  • 2(of a piece of writing or a work of art) too elaborate or complicated in design or construction.

Origin:

late Middle English: archaic past participle of overwork

overwrought in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of overwrought in the British & World English dictionary

Nearby words

  |  Cite
Oxford Dictionaries Pro

For Oxford's best resources for writers, plus thesaurus, audio, and 1.9m examples.

GET PRO ►

Shop for an Oxford dictionary
Find the perfect Oxford dictionary for you in our online shop.
SHOP NOW ►

Word of the day

logomachy

/ ləˈgɒməki /
noun
an argument about words …