'overcompensate' originates from the prefix 'over-' meaning 'excessively' and the verb 'compensate' from Latin 'compensare', where 'com-' meant 'together' and 'pensare' meant 'to weigh'.

'compensare' transformed into the French word 'compenser', and eventually became the modern English word 'compensate', with 'over-' added to indicate excessiveness.

Initially, it meant 'to make up for something excessively', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.