overturn

the word 'overturn' is a transparent compound formed from two english elements of distinct origins. the first element, 'over', is a native english word from proto-germanic uber, carrying the core sense of physical position 'above' or motion 'across'. the second element, 'turn', entered english from old french 'torner', which itself derived from latin 'tornare' (to turn on a lathe), tracing back to the greek 'tornos' (lathe, circle). the compound logic is direct: to turn something over, across its axis, so its top becomes its bottom. this literal, physical meaning from the late middle english period later extended metaphorically into legal and institutional contexts, meaning to reverse or invalidate a ruling, completing the action of flipping a decision onto its head.

Structure: over (above, across) + turn (to rotate) over (adverb/preposition, from old english 'ofer', meaning above, across, beyond). turn (verb, from old english 'turnian' and latin 'tornare', meaning to rotate, change direction).