Belabors

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To explain or discuss a subject in more detail than necessary, often repetitively ; to hit or strike someone or something multiple times with force
2. To dwell on a topic excessively and at length, making more effort than is needed ; to assault or beat something physically again and again
3. To go over a point or idea thoroughly and tediously ; to inflict repeated blows on an object or person

Etymology: "Belabors" is the third-person singular present form of "belabor," so the story belongs to the verb itself. The verb is built from the prefix "be-," meaning "on, upon, about, over," attached to "labor." The original sense was literal: to work at something over and over, or to beat upon something. That physical sense of striking repeatedly survives in the second meaning, while the first, explaining a point at excessive length, grows out of the same idea of pounding a subject again and again until it has been thoroughly worked over. The word "labor" in the base is the same word meaning toil or effort, so the verb carries the image of pressing on something with exhausting persistence. Its English form shows the American spelling, with "labor" as the spelling of the base, while British English writes "belabour." Both spellings share the same underlying sense.

Synonyms: harps on, overworks

Antonyms: neglects