Outstep

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To physically move the foot beyond a set line or boundary, often in walking or dancing ; to exceed a limit or boundary, figuratively going beyond what is allowed or expected
2. The action of placing a step outside a marked area or line ; an act of surpassing a limit or going further than set rules
3. Stepping past a designated boundary with the foot, especially in movement ; to go beyond established limits or restrictions in actions or behavior

Etymology: "Outstep" is a plain English compound: "out" combined with "step," with the sense of moving beyond a limit. The verb "out" is an old Germanic word, and "step" comes from the Old English "stæppe," meaning a single movement of the foot. Put together, the literal picture is a foot carried past a line that was meant to hold it. The figurative sense of going beyond established limits grew naturally from that physical image. Stepping outside a boundary with the foot became a way of describing overstepping any bounds, whether of rules, authority, or propriety. The word is a transparent formation, so its meaning can be read straight off its parts.

Synonyms: surpass, exceed, outdo, overstep, outperform

Antonyms: fall behind, lag, underperform, fail, stumble