Overshown

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. Displayed excessively or beyond what is necessary ; presented or exhibited in a manner that surpasses moderation ; made visible or expressed with an abundance that can overwhelm the intended purpose
2. Shown or revealed too much, exceeding appropriate limits ; manifested conspicuously or in a way that draws excessive attention ; demonstrated openly but with an overabundance that may detract from impact
3. Exhibited with an intensity or frequency greater than desired ; revealed conspicuously in a way that might diminish subtlety ; made plainly apparent beyond the point of necessity or aesthetic balance

Etymology: "Overshown" is the past participle of "overshow," a verb formed by attaching the prefix "over-" to "show." The prefix means "excessively" or "too much," so the verb simply means to show something to an excessive degree, and the participle describes something that has been displayed too much or too openly. The base verb "show" comes from Old English "scēawian," meaning to look at or to look upon, and over centuries it shifted from a sense of looking to a sense of presenting something for others to see. "Over-" has been productive in English since Old English times, letting speakers coin new verbs on the spot, and "overshow" follows that pattern rather than resting on a distinct historical story of its own.

Synonyms: overexposed, excessively revealed, overly displayed

Antonyms: undershown, hidden, concealed