overstep

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To go too far beyond (a limit); especially, to cross boundaries or exceed norms or conventions.

   That color scheme really oversteps the bounds of good taste.

2. 2
   verb

   To take a step in which the foot touches ground too far forward.

   As an instance of this inability to control the muscles well, may be cited the almost constant tendency to understep or overstep especially with the fore legs.

3. 3
   verb

   To move with a gait such that the hind foot touches the ground forward of the point where the front foot touches the ground.

   For quotations using this term, see Citations:overstep.

4. 4
   noun

   A gait in which the hind foot touches ground in front of where the front foot touches the ground.

   A few animals, such as bison, commonly use an understep walk, while several species, including black bears, cougars and pronghorn regularly use an overstep walk.

5. 5
   noun

   A decision or action that goes too far.

   […] an overstep of their legal bounds as an organization of any kind, and a violation of your civil rights.

6. 6
   verb

   pass beyond (limits or boundaries)

7. 7
   verb

   be superior or better than some standard

8. 8
   noun

   A movement in which one oversteps.

Etymology

From Middle English *oversteppen, from Old English ofersteppan, from Proto-Germanic *uberstapjaną (“to step over; overstep”), equivalent to over- + step. Cognate with Dutch overstappen, German Low German överstappen, German überstapfen, überstepfen.