Late Middle English; earliest use found in Geoffrey Chaucer (c1340–1400), poet and administrator. From over- + great. Compare slightly earlier over-greatly.
Definition of over-great in US English:
over-great
adjectiveˌəʊvəˈɡreɪt
Too great; excessive.
Origin
Late Middle English; earliest use found in Geoffrey Chaucer (c1340–1400), poet and administrator. From over- + great. Compare slightly earlier over-greatly.