overhydrated
|oʊ-vər-haɪ-dreɪ-tɪd|
🇺🇸
/ˌoʊvərˈhaɪdreɪtɪd/
🇬🇧
/ˌəʊvəˈhaɪdreɪtɪd/
(overhydrate)
excess water / too much water
Etymology
'overhydrated' is formed from the prefix 'over-' (from Old English 'ofer' meaning 'excess') combined with the verb 'hydrate', which ultimately comes via French 'hydrater' and Modern Latin elements from Greek 'hydōr' meaning 'water'.
The element 'hydrate' traces back to Greek 'hydōr' ('water') → Late Latin/Modern Latin forms → French 'hydrater' → English 'hydrate'. The prefix 'over-' comes from Old English 'ofer' and developed into the productive Modern English prefix 'over-'; these combined to form 'overhydrate' and its past participle 'overhydrated'.
Originally, 'hydrate' meant 'to combine with or add water'. With the addition of the prefix 'over-' the sense shifted to 'to supply too much water,' and 'overhydrated' now commonly means 'containing or having taken in an excessive amount of water'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Verb 1
past tense or past participle form of 'overhydrate'.
They overhydrated the plants last week and had to let the soil dry out.
Adjective 1
containing or having absorbed an excessive amount of water; excessively hydrated (often used medically to describe a person or animal who has taken in too much water, potentially causing an electrolyte imbalance).
After drinking too much water during the marathon, she felt sick and realized she was overhydrated.
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Adjective 2
containing more water than is typical or desirable for a material or chemical compound (e.g., an overhydrated chemical complex or soil that has taken on excess water).
The sample became overhydrated during storage and its properties changed.
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Last updated: 2025/09/07 23:10