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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Over-, Owercum, v. Also: ovir(e)-, owyr- and -com(e, p.t. -come, -cum, -cam(e, p.p. -cum(e, -come; -cum(m)in, -cumein; -commit, -cummit(t, -cummed. [e.m.E. overcome, ME. overcome(n, -cume(n, OE. ofercuman. Cf. Ourcum.]

1. tr. To overcome, get the better of, vanquish, master. = Ourcum v. 1.(a) 1533 Gau 28/26.
That the dewil owercum thayme notht 1567 G. Ball. 144.
Lat not our ennemeis vs ouercum a1578 Pitsc. I. 34/5.
Rewand ewerie man that he might owercome but law or ressone c1590 Fowler II. 97/34.
Quhome he ouercomming about Caravagio 1596 Dalr. I. 29/29. Ib. 147 marg.; etc.
This oxx … in his yre … walde … ouircum horsmen(b) 1551 Hamilton Cat. 152.
As the devil ouircome mankind be menis of a tre 1596 Dalr. I. 189 marg.
How Fincormak ouircam Traheirie in battel(c) (c 1550) Alex. (Taym.) 2199.
Ouirecumin 1551 Hamilton Cat. 22.
Quhairto [sc. temptation] gif we consent, we ar ouircummit Ib. 64.
All thai … quhilk being ouircommit with fair wordis, giftis or panis, denyis God 1560 Rolland Seven S. 1808.
This fell serpent he hes ouircum and slane 1573 Davidson Sat. P. xl. 24.
The craig … was ouercum for laik of vprichtnes a1578 Pitsc. I. 135/18.
The wther [faction] eassielie sould be ower cummitt 1581 Burne Disput. 39.
Luther … be the strenth of this argument … vas ouercummit 1596 Dalr. I. 99/35.
Quhen frome the feild thay war cum hame ouircum be thair ennimies c1650 Spalding I. 5.
That he could not get thame overcum and subdewit without ane livetennandrie in the northe

b. With non-material object. Also intr. const. over.(1) 1533 Gau 70/9.
Deid is ouercum be Christis power 1551 Hamilton Cat. 67.
Quhen He … owyrcame the ded 1568 Hosack Mary Q. of Scots I. 534.
His … seiknes … wes ȝit owercum be ȝouthheid and nature 1569–70 6th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. 650/1.
That [your ladyship's] vertue and honestye … will not be owercum with thair ingrait maner of dealyng a1578 Pitsc. II. 72/7.
Bot als mony as … haue nocht ovircum the concupiscence of the flesche c1590 Fowler I. 22.
Immortalitie that ouercummeth all tyme Ib.
Ouercummed 1596 Dalr. II. 312/4.
Ouir cumeng sum deceitful and craftie Inglis trikis(2) 1560 Rolland Seven S. 847.
Ouir sic perrell he clenelie suld ouircum

c. absol. To gain the victory, win. — c1590 Fowler II. 98/15. Ib. 144/35.
Of these quha … invictourouslye travelled in ther conduct of there wers and overcam not 1600 Misc. Bann. C. I. 146.
In warsling the King ouercoms and getis him under him 1600-1610 Melvill 117.
To owercom 1603 E. Melville Godlie Dreame 440.
Overcum in fecht and ȝe sall weare the crowne

d. In passive. Of a wild animal: To be tamed or domesticated. — ?1549 Monro W. Isles (1961) 81.
The saidis iles … full of wild scheip … quhilk may not be ovircumein

2. a. To obtain ascendancy over, to dominate, overpower. = Ourcum v. 2 and 2 b. 15.. Clar. i. 283.
Luif did hir so owercum That … scho sat … dumbe 1559 Knox II. 16.
Bein overcum with comoun iniquitie a1585 Maitl. Q. xxxix. 20.
Gif Bewtie had me bound in thrall And wer overcum with lustis sensuall

b. P.p. Overpowered by (with) drink. 1608 Dunferm. B. Rec. II. 47.
Untill they be overcum with drink 1619 Perth Kirk S. MS. 11 Jan.
Haueing drunkin aquavytie till he wes ouercum thairuith 1621 Ib. 12 Mar.
Owercum

c. P.p. Greatly or excessively burdened or oppressed. a1578 Pitsc. I. 88/19.
The poore pepill was sa owercum [and] burdaned witht importabill thingis and chairgis c1590 Fowler II. 154/34.
The pepill, ouercume with the furie and insolent tyranie off the conquerour

3. a. To surpass, excel. = Ourcum v. 3. b. To exceed.a. 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 123.
I … will not be ouercum be hir in loyall observance 1596 Dalr. I. 164/11.
This legat ouircam al the legatis … in actes of nobilitieb. 1560 Rolland Seven S. 2796.
Sa greit riches he spent Quhilk thrise ouircome his rentall

4. intr. a. To recover consciousness (from (out of) a swoon). = Ourcum v. 4. b. To recover (from a shock). c. To recover health.a. 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 1934.
Quhill finallie out of that deidlie swoun I swyith ouircome 15.. Clar. iii. 669. 1560 Rolland Seven S. 7607. a1578 Pitsc. I. 208/31.
The King owercame lyand in the myleb. 15.. Clar. i. 435.
Meliades micht not ane word out bring … for inward paine and wo … And quhen that scho owercam than said scho [etc.]c. 1616 Rogers Social Life III. 301.
Immediatelie thaireftir the kow ouircome and wes alsweill as she was

5. tr. To ‘get over’; to surmount (a difficulty); to recover from (a disappointment). 1609 Acts IV. 434/1.
His maiesteis admirable constancie hes sa ouercome all difficulteis that [etc.] 1648 Hamilton P. (Camden Soc.) 244.
That that was not to be overcome 1666 Laing MSS. I. 350.
If hee … denay me … I trust God will give me a heart to overcom it