different between overturn vs surmount

English

Etymology

From Middle English overturnen, equivalent to over- +? turn. Compare also Middle English overterven (“to overturn”), see terve.

Verb

overturn (third-person singular simple present overturns, present participle overturning, simple past and past participle overturned)

1. (transitive or intransitive) To turn over, capsize or upset.
2. (transitive) To overthrow or destroy.
3. (law, transitive) To reverse (a decision); to overrule or rescind.
4. (transitive) To diminish the significance of a previous defeat by winning; to make a comeback from.

Translations

Noun

overturn (plural overturns)

1. A turning over or upside-down; inversion.
2. The overturning or overthrow of some institution or state of affairs; ruin.

Anagrams

• turn over, turnover

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