Outsnores

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To produce louder or more prolonged sleeping sounds than another person ; to surpass another in the intensity or duration of snoring ; to be noisier in one's sleeping breathing than someone else
2. To emit deeper or more frequent snoring noises that exceed another’s ; to dominate in the volume or persistence of snoring during sleep ; to make sleeping sounds that overshadow those of another person
3. To generate heavier or more incessant snoring compared to someone else ; to outdo another in the loudness or length of sleep-related noises ; to have a more pronounced and audible snore than another individual

Etymology: "Outsnores" is the third-person singular present form of "outsnore," so it is the verb "outsnore" in its present tense, meaning to snore more loudly or persistently than someone else. The verb is formed from the prefix "out-," meaning "beyond" or "surpassing," attached to "snore." The pattern is a productive one in English: "out-" combined with a verb produces a new verb meaning to do that action better, longer, or more than another, as in "outrun," "outshine," or "outsing." "Snore" itself is the older, underlying word, and the new verb simply adds the sense of surpassing to it. Nothing about the history of "snore" changes in the process, so the interest here lies in how easily English can attach "out-" to nearly any action word to create a competition in that action.

Synonyms: out-sleeps, out-naps, out-rests

Antonyms: wakes, arises