different between overcome vs surpassable

English

Etymology

From Middle English overcomen, from Old English ofercuman (“to overcome, subdue, compel, conquer, obtain, attain, reach, overtake”), corresponding to over- +? come. Cognate with Dutch overkomen (“to overcome”), German überkommen (“to overcome”), Danish overkomme (“to overcome”), Swedish överkomma (“to overcome”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /???v??k?m/
• (US) IPA^(key): /?o?v???k?m/

Verb

overcome (third-person singular simple present overcomes, present participle overcoming, simple past overcame, past participle overcome)

1. (transitive) To surmount (a physical or abstract obstacle); to prevail over, to get the better of.

   to overcome enemies in battle

   • 1898, J. Meade Falkner, Moonfleet, Ch. 4:

     By and by fumes of brandy began to fill the air, and climb to where I lay, overcoming the mouldy smell of decayed wood and the dampness of the green walls.

2. (transitive) To win or prevail in some sort of battle, contest, etc.
3. To come or pass over; to spread over.
4. To overflow; to surcharge.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of J. Philips to this entry?)

Translations

Noun

overcome (plural overcomes)

1. (Scotland) The burden or recurring theme in a song.
2. (Scotland) A surplus.

References

• overcome in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• overcome in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.

Anagrams

• come over, come-over, comeover

English

Etymology

surpass +? -able

Adjective

surpassable (comparative more surpassable, superlative most surpassable)

1. Able to be surpassed; able to be overcome.