Overeats

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To engage in the act of consuming food in amounts that significantly surpass what is deemed appropriate or healthy
2. To partake in eating habits characterized by an excessive intake of food, often resulting in negative physical effects
3. To eat more food than the body needs, often leading to discomfort

Etymology: "Overeats" is the third-person singular present form of "overeat," so the history belongs to the verb itself. It is a plain compound: "over-" joined to "eat." The prefix comes from Old English "ofer," which carried the sense of being above or beyond, and it has descended from the same ancient root that gave English "over" its basic meaning of going past a limit. The verb "eat" is older still in English, so the new word simply stacks the idea of excess onto a very old activity. The result is a transparent word: "over" means too much or beyond what is needed, and "eat" means to take in food. Few steps of semantic change are involved, so the meaning in the modern sense is close to the literal parts put together.

Synonyms: overindulges, gluts, feasts

Antonyms: fast, diet, restrict