overall

The word "overall" is a compound formed from two native English elements, "over" and "all," both with deep Germanic roots. Its earliest recorded use in the 14th century was as an adverb meaning "all over" or "from one end to the other," literally conveying the sense of covering the entirety of something. This spatial and comprehensive sense naturally evolved into the modern adjectival meaning of "including everything" or "total." By the 18th century, this general sense was applied to specific garments, like protective work clothes, that are designed to be worn over all one's other clothing, giving rise to its nominal meaning.

Structure: over (above, across) + all (entire, whole) - over: from Old English ofer, of Germanic origin; a preposition/adverb meaning "above," "across," or "beyond." - all: from Old English eall, of Germanic origin; an adjective meaning "the whole of," "entire," or "every."