overdose
UK[ˈəʊvədəʊs]US[ˈoʊvərdoʊs]
n
an excessive and dangerous dose of a drug or medicine.
v
to take or give an excessive and dangerous dose of a drug or medicine.
Morpheme Breakdown
over
dose
over
excessive
dose
measured amount
Etymology
the word 'overdose' is a transparent compound formed within english from the native prefix 'over-' and the borrowed noun 'dose'. the prefix 'over-', with its ancient germanic roots conveying excess, is attached to 'dose', a term which entered english via latin from the greek 'dosis', meaning "a giving" or "a portion given." the literal construction "excessive portion given" perfectly captures the modern medical and colloquial meaning of a dangerously large quantity of a substance administered or consumed. this logical compounding demonstrates how english readily combines elements from different linguistic lineages to create precise, descriptive terminology.
Analysis
Structure: over (excessive) + dose (measured amount)
- over: of old english origin, meaning "above, beyond, excessively." functions as an intensifying prefix.
- dose: from middle french 'dose', via latin from greek 'dosis' (a giving), from 'didonai' (to give). functions as the core noun/verb root.
Examples
the patient was hospitalized after a heroin overdose.
it is possible to overdose on certain vitamins if taken in extreme amounts.
the film is an overdose of sentimentality, lacking any subtlety.