overflown

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English[edit]

Etymology 1[edit]

From over- +‎ flown.

Verb[edit]

overflown

  1. past participle of overfly

Etymology 2[edit]

From Middle English overflowen (past participle of overflowen besides rare overflowed), from Old English oferflōwen (past participle of oferflōwan).

Verb[edit]

overflown

  1. (US, proscribed) past participle of overflow
Usage notes[edit]

The use of the past participle overflown for overflow sometimes occurs in American English, where it is often proscribed and seen as resulting from a confusion of overflow and overfly. However, it was once more prevalent throughout the English-speaking world, and is ultimately the original form.