overall English · revision 2835

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=c. 1000}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: noun, adjective UK /ˈəʊ.vər.ɔːl/, US /ˈoʊ.vɚ.ɔːl/; adverb UK /ˌəʊ.vərˈɔːl/, US /ˌoʊ.vɚˈɔːl/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|overal]],^(MWU 2024) from the Old English phrase [[m|ang|ofer eall|t=everywhere]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) [[af|ang|ofer|eall]], the sources of [[over]] and [[all]].^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The adverb, “everywhere, in every direction”: about 1000.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) Merriam-Webster dates it to the 13th century.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The original sense “everywhere” is obsolete,^(Etymonline) as is “beyond everything, especially” (about 1175).^(OED 1989) The adverb was long written as two words.^(SOED 2002) The noun, an outer garment, is from the late 18th century:^(SOED 2002) loose trousers worn by workmen over their ordinary clothes from 1782,^(OED 1989) and an outer covering or cloak from 1815.^(OED 1989) Merriam-Webster dates the noun to 1797.^(MW Collegiate) In Lancashire dialect an overall was a pair of white trousers worn to keep the ordinary ones clean.^(Wright 1898) The adjective, “including everything; considered as a whole”, is from 1894,^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) and the adverb in the sense “taking everything into account, generally” from 1958 in the OED.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1000 – adverb, everywhere.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1175 – adverb, especially.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1782 – workmen's loose trousers.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1815 – an outer garment.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1894 – adjective, including everything.^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1958 – adverb, generally.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Including everything; [[comprehensive]]: ''the overall cost''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Regarded as a whole; general.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # From one end to the other: ''overall length''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Adverb===

+ # On the whole; generally.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(chiefly British)'' A loose protective coat or [[smock]] worn over ordinary clothes.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''overalls'': Loose trousers of strong cloth, often with a [[bib]] and shoulder straps, worn over other clothes.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[overalled]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[over]]

+ * [[all]]

+ * [[overalls]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}