'overexert' originates from the prefix 'over-' meaning 'excessively' and the verb 'exert' from Latin 'exserere', where 'ex-' meant 'out' and 'serere' meant 'to join'.

'exserere' transformed into the English word 'exert', and with the addition of the prefix 'over-', it became 'overexert'.

Initially, it meant 'to apply force or effort', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'applying too much force or effort'.