overly adverb 5adjective 3forms 2 adverb5 •to a greater degree than is reasonable or needed, tooParents can be overly protective of their children. •to a high degree, veryI'm not overly enthusiastic about meeting him. •(no longer used) with too little care, dealing only with the surface of something •(no longer used) Carelessly, without due attention.If you expect the Poor should work cheaper, and not perform their Work slighter and more overly, as we call it, and superficially, you expect what is not in the Nature of the Thing. — 1728 •(no longer used) with a proud feeling of being more important than others, arrogantlyThe third [vice] is Arrogancie, and the fourth Pride, two vices neer a kinne, Cosen germans […] when men shall arrogate much unto themselves; looking overly and superciliously upon others. — 1650 adjective3 •(no longer used) Excessive; too great.[…] there appears a very chilling want of open-heartedness on the part of Owen, produced perhaps by the somewhat overly and certainly most ungracious resentments of Baxter. — 1839 •(no longer used) Superficial; not thorough; careless, negligent, inattentive.The curteous Citizen bad me to his feast, With hollow words, and ouerly request: Come, will ye dine with me this Holy day? I yeelded, tho he hop’d I would say Nay: — 1602 •(no longer used) Having a sense of superiority, haughty. formsmore overly · most overly
