Overpermit

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. Grant an excessive amount of permission or leniency to a person or situation
2. Authorize to an overly great extent, permitting beyond what is reasonable or appropriate
3. Let happen more than is wise or necessary by allowing too much

Etymology: "Overpermit" is a straightforward English compound: the prefix "over-" (meaning "too much" or "beyond the proper amount") attached to "permit," which comes from Latin "permittere," literally "to let go through" or "to allow," from "per" ("through") and "mittere" ("to send"). The "over-" prefix is an old and productive English element, found in Old English compounds such as "overcome" and "overlook," and it has been used freely to form new verbs throughout the language's history. The verb "overpermit" follows this pattern exactly: it means to permit something to happen to an excessive degree, or to allow more than is wise. Its meaning is transparent from its parts, so it reads as a modern formation rather than a word with a dramatic past. Dictionaries record it mainly in the sense of letting something go too far, and it is used in the same spirit as related verbs such as "overindulge" or "overprescribe."

Synonyms: overallow, overauthorize, overapprove

Antonyms: underpermit, underallow, disallow, forbid