overwait

English

Etymology

From over- +‎ wait.

Pronunciation

• (verb):
  • (UK) IPA^(key): /ˌəʊvəˈweɪt/
  • (US) enPR: ō'vər-wātʹ, IPA^(key): /ˌoʊvɚˈweɪt/
• (noun):
  • (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈəʊvəweɪt/
  • (US) enPR: ōʹvər-wāt, IPA^(key): /ˈoʊvɚweɪt/
• Rhymes: -eɪt

Verb

overwait (third-person singular simple present overwaits, present participle overwaiting, simple past and past participle overwaited)

1. (transitive) To wait for an excessive amount of time; wait beyond the time allowed or expected; wait too long.
   • 1915, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, The Journal of the Worcester Polytechnic Institute:

     I didn't waste any time getting to sleep, and the orderly didn't overwait his time, either. I miscalculated on the moon and the depth of our chasm. I expected the moon to appear some time before midnight, but she didn't.

   • 2000, Jeff Walling, Daring to Dance With God:

     I'm convinced we behave like this because most of us overwait for times of respite, and then we try to cram a month's peace into two weeks of hectic vacationing.

Noun

overwait (uncountable)

1. The period of time one overwaits; an excessive duration of waiting; delay.
   • 1912, The English reports:

     But they have objected that this word oppresse is incertain; for he may be oppressed with overwait, or hunger and cold.