Overflown Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations
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overflown
[หoสvษrหfloสn ]
Definition
water or liquid
The term 'overflown' refers to the state of having overflowed, which usually occurs when a container or area becomes filled beyond its capacity, leading to spillage. This can apply to liquid substances, such as water overflowing from a sink, river, or bathtub. The phenomenon is often associated with floods or wet conditions where the volume of liquid exceeds what can be managed. In a metaphorical sense, it can also describe situations where feelings or emotions surpass what can be contained.
Synonyms
flooded, overfilled, overflowed, spilled.
Examples of usage
- The river has overflown its banks after the heavy rain.
- The bathtub was overflown while I was distracted.
- His emotions overflown during the touching movie.
- The cup overflown with coffee after a clumsy spill.
Translations
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Interesting Facts
Science
- Overfilling can lead to spills, which in scientific terms can affect measurements in experiments and lead to inaccuracies.
- In hydrology, when a river 'overflows,' it can cause floods, impacting ecosystems and human settlements.
Literature
- Writers often use the concept of overflown as a metaphor for emotions that cannot be contained, like joy or sorrow.
- In poetry, overflowing imagery is powerful; it conveys excess and passion, making feelings more intense.
Pop Culture
- In the animated movie 'Inside Out', emotions like sadness can represent being overflown with feelings.
- Music often uses the idea of overflowing to describe an abundance of love or heartbreak, resonating with listeners' experiences.
Psychology
- A person feeling overwhelmed might describe their emotions as 'overflown', indicating a lack of control.
- Therapists may use the concept of emotional overflow to help clients address feelings that are hard to manage.
Origin of 'overflown'
Main points about word origin
- The word comes from the combination of 'over' meaning too much and 'flow' meaning to move or pour out.
- Historically, 'flow' has roots in Old English, which was used to describe both liquid and abstract movements, like emotions.
The word 'overflown' is the past participle of the verb 'overflow', which derives from Middle English 'overfloven', a combination of 'over' and 'floven' (to flow). The roots can be traced back to Old English 'ลซverswฤgan', meaning 'to flow over', which itself stems from 'ลซfer', meaning 'above'. The usage of 'overflow' relates directly to various contexts of liquid management, capacity issues, and emotional experiences, culminating in the evolution of the term through the centuries. The connection between physical spilling and emotional excess remains a rich part of its usage, symbolizing a range of human experiences.