'overcome' originates from Old English, specifically the word 'ofercuman', where 'ofer-' meant 'over' and 'cuman' meant 'to come'.

'ofercuman' transformed into the Middle English word 'overcomen', and eventually became the modern English word 'overcome'.

Initially, it meant 'to come over or surpass', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'to defeat or prevail over'.