different between overpower vs surmount

English

Etymology

over- +? power

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /??v??pa??/
• (US) IPA^(key): /o?.v??pa??.?/

Verb

overpower (third-person singular simple present overpowers, present participle overpowering, simple past and past participle overpowered)

1. (transitive) To subdue someone by superior force.

   We overpowered the opposing army within a couple of hours.

2. (transitive) To excel or exceed in power; to cause to yield; to subdue.

   Bright light overpowers the eyes.
3. (transitive) To render imperceptible by means of greater strength, intensity etc.

   The dish was OK, but the garlic slightly overpowered the herbs.
4. (video games, transitive) To make excessively powerful.

   Antonym: nerf

Translations

English

Etymology

From Middle English [Term?], from Old French surmonter (“to rise above, surmount”), from sur- (“above”) + monter (“to mount”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /s??ma?nt/
• (US) IPA^(key): /s??ma?nt/

Verb

surmount (third-person singular simple present surmounts, present participle surmounting, simple past and past participle surmounted)

1. (transitive) To get over; to overcome.
   • 1748. David Hume. Enquiries concerning the human understanding and concerning the principles of moral. London: Oxford University Press, 1973. § 10.

     this difficulty may perhaps be surmounted by care and art

2. (transitive) To cap; to sit on top off.

Related terms

• surmountable
• insurmountable

Translations

Further reading

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