Overpays

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. Pays an amount of money greater than the true value or cost of a good or service
2. Provides payment exceeding what is fair or necessary for an item or task
3. Gives more funds than deserved or expected when settling a price or debt

Etymology: "Overpay" is a plain formation: the prefix "over-", meaning in excess or beyond what is right, attached to "pay." The verb "pay" is the one with the longer history. It traces back through Middle English "payen" to Old French "paier," and ultimately to Latin "pācāre," meaning "to pacify" or "to appease," a sense that grew out of "pāx," "peace." To pay, originally, was to settle a debt and so bring a creditor to peace. "Over-" is an older and more widely used element, descending from Old English "ofer," which is related to the same ancient root behind the English word "over" itself. Compounds with it, such as "overeat" or "overwork," follow the same pattern, so "overpay" adds nothing unusual to the prefix.

Synonyms: overcompensates

Antonyms: underpays