Overnumber

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To exceed a proper or intended count in quantity; to allocate or list more than the necessary number; to assign numbers in excess of what is required for a group, set, or list
2. Surpassing the designated total by assigning additional numbers; providing a greater count than desired; numbering beyond what is appropriate for a collection, batch, or register
3. Giving out more numbers than needed for an intended purpose; having a total quantity that goes beyond the necessary limit; listing extras over the prescribed amount for an assembly or compilation

Etymology: "Overnumber" is a straightforward formation: the prefix "over-", meaning excessive or beyond the proper amount, attached to the verb "number", meaning to count or to amount to a particular total. Put together, it means to outnumber or to have more of something than is wanted or needed, with the emphasis on surplus rather than on simply exceeding a rival's count. The "over-" prefix is an old and productive element in English, used to build verbs like "overeat", "overpay" and "overestimate" that describe going past a proper limit. "Number" itself comes into English from Old French "nombre", which in turn comes from Latin "numerus", so the base word has a long pedigree before the prefix was ever attached.