outrun
UK[ˌaʊtˈrʌn]US[ˌaʊtˈrʌn]
v
to run or move faster than someone or something else.
v
to be greater or more successful than something.
Morpheme Breakdown
out
run
out
beyond
run
move swiftly
Etymology
the word 'outrun' is a transparent english compound verb formed from two native old english elements. the prefix 'out-' derives from the old english 'ūt', meaning "out, outside, beyond", which itself can be traced back to the proto-germanic 'ūt' and ultimately the proto-indo-European 'úd', meaning "up, out". the verb 'run' originates from old english 'rinnan' or 'iernan', meaning "to run, flow", from proto-germanic 'rinnaną'. the literal combination, "to run beyond", perfectly captures the core meaning of surpassing someone in a race. over time, this physical sense broadened metaphorically to encompass surpassing in any competitive context, such as outrunning one's problems or having demand outrun supply, maintaining a clear logical thread from its constituent parts.
Analysis
Structure: out (beyond) + run (move swiftly)
out: old english origin, a preposition/adverb meaning "outside, beyond, away". in this compound, it functions as an intensifying prefix meaning "to a greater extent" or "beyond".
run: old english origin, a verb meaning "to move swiftly on foot". in this compound, it functions as the core verbal root.
Examples
the cheetah can easily outrun most other land animals.
his spending has consistently outrun his income this year.
the company's reputation for quality helped it outrun its competitors.