Overcools

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. Chills something beyond the point needed, lowering its temperature more than intended
2. Brings a substance or object down to a temperature colder than is necessary or desired
3. Reduces the heat of a liquid or food too far, past the level that was actually wanted

Etymology: "Overcools" is the third-person singular present form of the verb "overcool," meaning to cool something too far, past the point intended. The verb is built from "over-," a prefix meaning excessively or beyond, attached to "cool," an Old English-derived word that has long meant lowering temperature. The prefix does the real work here. Over- attached to an ordinary verb produces a sense of going past a proper limit, as in "overcook" or "overheat," and "overcool" follows the same pattern, applied to lowering temperature rather than raising it. The 's' ending simply marks the present tense for "he," "she," or "it."