Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • transitive verb To overpower by superior force; overcome.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • To overpower; subdue; vanquish.
  • To retain by superior force; have in one's power.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • transitive verb To overpower; to subdue; to vanquish; to govern.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • verb to overpower or overwhelm

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • verb overcome by superior force

Etymologies

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Examples

  • At each period of growth all the growing twigs have tried to branch out on all sides, and to overtop and kill the surrounding twigs and branches, in the same manner as species and groups of species have tried to overmaster other species in the great battle for life.

    A Disclaimer for Behe? 2009

  • Which is what Father taught me to do, if I can only overmaster my fear.

    Pathfinder Orson Scott Card 2010

  • "But you did not let your feelings overmaster you-or we would not be here now."

    Tran Siberian Michael J. Solender 2010

  • Elspat, disdaining to continue the objurgation, or perhaps feeling her grief likely to overmaster her power of expressing her resentment, had left the hut, and was walking forth in the bright moonshine.

    Chronicles of the Canongate 2008

  • She said: It is well; I will take that, lest desire overmaster thee.

    The Water of the Wondrous Isles 2007

  • It knew when the bird's need to fly was going to overmaster its need to stay still, in its hide.

    Blaze Bachman, Richard 2007

  • But she was a lady of such fine principles, that she did not allow her grief to overmaster her; and an opportunity speedily arising for uniting the two best Saxon families in

    Burlesques 2006

  • "But you did not let your feelings overmaster you — or we would not be here now."

    The Outstretched Shadow 2003

  • I sharply turned my head away, partly because his presence utterly displeased me, and partly because I wished to shun questions: lest, in my present mood, the effort of answering should overmaster self-command.

    Villette 2003

  • He longed to cry to her from his soul, to crush her body against his, to overmaster her.

    Dubliners 2003

Comments

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  • Gosh, I'm glad to have the Visuals back.

    July 6, 2015

  • Let's keep our fingers crossed, or as Erin said, "Let's be very very quiet."

    https://www.wordnik.com/words/erinmckean

    July 6, 2015

  • I for one welcome (back) our Flickr overmasters.

    July 7, 2015