Overearning

Part of speech: noun, verb

Definitions

1. Receiving an excessive amount of income or profit beyond normal expectations
2. Generating more money than is typical or advisable through work or investments
3. Obtaining unusually high earnings that surpass the usual financial limits

Etymology: Over- is a productive English prefix meaning "too much" or "excessively," attached here to "earn," which comes from Old English "earnian," meaning to deserve or merit something through labour. The verb "earn" once carried a sense of deserving, and the idea that wages are what one has merited is still built into the word. Adding "over-" to "earn" produces a verb meaning to earn more than is fitting or expected. The noun "overearning" follows the same pattern, formed by adding the suffix "-ing" to the verb. Because "over-" can attach freely to most verbs, the word needed no special coinage and is a transparent compound. Its meaning follows directly from its parts.

Synonyms: excessively earning, overreceiving

Antonyms: underearning, insufficiently earning