Overdiscover

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To find or uncover something beyond what is necessary or expected; to explore or reveal something excessively or beyond the original aim; to identify or expose more than what was initially sought
2. To detect or learn about a subject or fact in greater detail or quantity than required; to investigate or expose to an excessive degree; to realize or perceive beyond the intended scope
3. To obtain knowledge or information surpassing the necessary threshold; to examine or discover in surplus of what was planned or needed; to recognize or reveal more than the expected amount

Etymology: The base word "discover" began as a physical act. It comes from Old French "descovrir", which meant to take the cover off something, and that literal sense of uncovering is what English originally borrowed. The figurative sense of finding out what was hidden grew out of it. "Overdiscover" is simply the prefix "over-", meaning excessively or beyond what is proper, attached to that older sense. The prefix works as it does in "overdo" or "overeat," so the word means to uncover too much, to reveal more than is wanted.