Overdared

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. Took a risk or challenged someone more boldly than was wise or safe
2. Went beyond what was prudent by daring too greatly in an action or challenge
3. Ventured far past the limits of caution through reckless or excessive boldness

Etymology: "Overdared" is the past tense and past participle of "overdare," a verb built from the prefix "over-" and the verb "dare." The prefix is an ordinary English one, meaning "beyond" or "too much," so the verb means to dare more than someone else, or to dare beyond what is wise or proper. The base verb "dare" goes back to Old English, while "over-" has been productive in English since the same early period, which is why the combination needed no special invention. Because "overdare" is a transparent compound of two long-established English elements, its history is essentially the history of its parts. Verbs formed this way with "over-" often appear in older writing as a way to describe excess in action or courage, and the pattern remains available to speakers who want to say that someone has gone too far in daring.