Overweninge

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Displaying an arrogant pride or presumption that goes well beyond what is reasonable or deserved
2. Excessively confident of one's own importance, and so presumptuous toward others in a way that causes offence
3. Characterized by haughty conceit and an inflated opinion of oneself, often to the point of arrogance

Etymology: "Overweninge" is a Middle English adjective meaning arrogant or presumptuous, built from the verb "overwenen," to think too highly of oneself. That verb combines "over-," meaning beyond or excessive, with "wenen," to think, suppose, or expect, which descends from Old English "wēnan," related to "wén," hope or expectation. So the word's core idea is thinking more of yourself than is warranted. The "-inge" ending is the Middle English adjectival suffix, a variant of the -ing forms that could describe a person doing something. Examples of the form are scattered through Middle English texts, though the word is attested mainly in Middle English writing and did not survive into modern English. The modern descendant of the same family is "overweening," which keeps the sense of excessive pride or self-confidence.