overstock
UK[ˌəʊvəˈstɒk]US[ˌoʊvərˈstɑːk]
v
to supply or hold more of something than is needed or can be sold
n
a supply of goods that is larger than needed or can be sold
Morpheme Breakdown
over
stock
over
excess
stock
supply
Etymology
the word "overstock" is a transparent compound formed from native english elements. the prefix "over-," with its core sense of excess or beyond a limit, is combined with the noun "stock," which evolved from the old english "stocc" (meaning tree trunk, log, stake). the semantic journey of "stock" from a literal tree stump to a supply of goods is metaphorical, likening the foundational supply to the base of a tree. thus, "overstock" logically and literally means to have a supply ("stock") that goes beyond ("over-") what is necessary, a concept that remains directly tied to its constituent parts in modern commercial usage.
Analysis
Structure: over (excess) + stock (supply)
- over: of old english origin, a prefix meaning "above, beyond, in excess."
- stock: of old english origin, a noun meaning "supply of goods, capital, trunk of a tree."
Examples
the retailer decided to discount the summer clothing to clear their overstock before the new season.
a sudden drop in demand left the factory with a costly overstock of components.
it's poor financial practice to overstock on perishable inventory.