overwait

The period of time one overwaits; an excessive duration of waiting; delay.

Noun

  1. The period of time one overwaits; an excessive duration of waiting; delay.
    • But they have objected that this word oppresse is incertain; for he may be oppressed with overwait, or hunger and cold. - 1912, The English reports:

Origin

From over- + wait.

Verb

  1. To wait for an excessive amount of time; wait beyond the time allowed or expected; wait too long.
    • I didn't waste any time getting to sleep, and the orderly didn't overwait his time, either. I miscalculated on the moon and the depth of our chasm. I expected the moon to appear some time before midnight, but she...
    • I'm convinced we behave like this because most of us overwait for times of respite, and then we try to cram a month's peace into two weeks of hectic vacationing. - 2000, Jeff Walling, Daring to Dance With God:

Forms

overwaits overwaiting overwaited