'oversimplify' originates from English, combining the prefix 'over-' meaning 'excessively' with 'simplify,' which comes from Latin 'simplificare,' where 'simplex' meant 'simple' and 'facere' meant 'to make.'

'simplificare' transformed into the French word 'simplifier,' and eventually became the modern English word 'simplify,' which combined with 'over-' to form 'oversimplify.'

Initially, it meant 'to make simple,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'to make excessively simple, often to the point of distortion.'