oversway

English

Etymology

From over- +‎ sway.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /əʊvəˈsweɪ/

Verb

oversway (third-person singular simple present oversways, present participle overswaying, simple past and past participle overswayed)

1. (obsolete) To hold sway over; to have power or dominion over, to rule, govern. [16th–19th c.]
   • 1624, Iohn Smith, The Generall Historie of Virginia, New-England, and the Summer Isles: […], London: […] I[ohn] D[awson] and I[ohn] H[aviland] for Michael Sparkes, →OCLC, (please specify |book=1 to 6); reprinted in The Generall Historie of Virginia, [...] (Bibliotheca Americana), Cleveland, Oh.: The World Publishing Company, 1966, →OCLC:

     [T]he Presidents authoritie so overswayed the discretion of Master Scrivener, that our store, our time, our strength and labours were idely consumed to fulfill his phantasies.

2. To overrule. [from 16th c.]
3. To cause (someone, someone's thoughts or intentions etc.) to go in a particular direction; to influence. [from 16th c.]
4. To overpower, overwhelm. [from 17th c.]
   • 1607, Conradus Gesnerus [i.e., Conrad Gessner], Edward Topsell, “The English Bloudhounde”, in The Historie of Foure-footed Beastes. […], London: […] William Iaggard, →OCLC, page 152:

     Likevviſe the fragrancy of euery greene herbe yeeldeth ſuch a ſauour, as doth not a little obliterate and ouerſvvay the ſauour of the beaſt: […]