override

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle English overriden,^[2][3][4] inherited from Old English oferrīdan (“to ride across, cross on horseback”),^[3][5][4] formed from Old English ofer (“over”) + rīdan (“to ride”).^[3][4][6] The OED treats it as formed within English from over- and ride, and compares Middle Dutch overriden and Middle High German überrīten.^[7]

Earliest recorded meaning

To ride over or across something, to cross on horseback: in the Old English translation of Bede, where Aidan is given a horse on which he could ride across fords.^[7][5]

Semantic evolution

The verb was at first literal, used especially of cavalry.^[3][8] From the 14th century it meant to ride down and trample people (about 1330),^[7][2] to ride all over a country so as to harry it (about 1350),^[7] and to overtake while riding (1408).^[7] From 1609 it also meant to ride a horse too hard.^[7] The figurative sense, to exercise authority over someone arrogantly or to set aside a decision, is recorded from about 1565 in the revised OED,^[7] by 1827 in Etymonline and the first edition of the OED, from the notion of trampling down.^[3][9] Weekley compares overrun.^[8] To prevail over, outweigh follows in 1762.^[7] The mechanical sense, to suspend an automatic function, especially for manual control, is recorded from 1946 for the noun and 1949 for the verb.^[7][3] The noun is also a commission paid to a manager on a subordinate's sales (1934),^[7][10] and, originally in North America, the overruling of a decision (1975).^[7] In Lincolnshire dialect the verb could mean to overflow or spread over land.^[11]

Timeline

• Old English – to ride across, in the translation of Bede.^[7][5]
• c. 1330 – to ride down and trample.^[7]
• c. 1350 – to ride over a country with an armed force.^[7]
• c. 1565 – to exercise authority over; to set aside.^[7]
• 1609 – to ride a horse too hard.^[7]
• 1762 – to prevail over, outweigh.^[7]
• 1847 – to extend over, overlap.^[7]
• 1934 – noun, an overriding commission.^[7][4]
• 1946 – noun, suspension of an automatic function, or a device for it.^[7][3]
• 1949 – verb, to suspend the operation of an automatic system.^[7]
• 1975 – noun, an act of overruling a decision.^[7]

Meanings

Verb

1. To set aside or annul a decision, ruling or wish by superior authority: The council voted to override the mayor's veto.^[12][4][10]
2. To be more important than; to prevail over or outweigh.^[12][4][7]
3. To take manual control of a system that normally works automatically.^[12][4][7]
4. To extend over; to overlap.^[12][4][7]
5. To ride a horse too hard.^[12][4][7]
6. To ride over or across; to trample.^[12][4][7]

Noun

1. A device or system for overriding an automatic control, or the act of using it.^[12][4][7]
2. An act of overruling or cancelling a decision.^[4][7]
3. A commission paid to a manager on sales made by a subordinate.^[4][10][7]

Related words

• overrule
• overrun
• ride
• overwrite

Usage notes

Wiktionary notes the nonstandard past participle overrode for overridden, and the frequent confusion of override with overwrite.^[1]

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b Kurath, Hans; Kuhn, Sherman M.; Lewis, Robert E., eds. (1952–2001), Middle English Dictionary, Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press; online edition ed. Frances McSparran et al. (2000–2018)
3. ^ a b c d e f g Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
5. ^ a b c Bosworth, Joseph; Toller, T. Northcote (1898), An Anglo-Saxon Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press; Toller, T. Northcote (1921), Supplement
6. ^ Klein, Ernest. A Comprehensive Etymological Dictionary of the English Language. 2 vols. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 1966–1967.
7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z 27 28 29 30 Oxford English Dictionary Online (accessed March 2026), Oxford: Oxford University Press
8. ^ a b Weekley, Ernest (1921), An Etymological Dictionary of Modern English, London: John Murray
9. ^ Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
10. ^ a b c Garner, Bryan A., ed. (2004), Black's Law Dictionary, 8th ed., St. Paul, Minn.: Thomson West
11. ^ Wright, Joseph, ed. (1898–1905), The English Dialect Dictionary, 6 vols., Oxford: Henry Frowde; via EDD Online 4.0, University of Innsbruck (CC BY 4.0)
12. ^ a b c d e f g Collins English Dictionary (2023), Glasgow: HarperCollins