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Webster 1913 Edition
Oversee
Oˊver-see′
,Verb.
T.
[
imp.
Oversaw
; p. p.
Overseen
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Overseeing
.] 1.
To superintend; to watch over; to direct; to look or see after; to overlook{2}.
2.
To omit or neglect seeing; to overlook{5}.
[archaic]
Spenser.
Oˊver-see′
,Verb.
I.
To see too or too much; hence, to be deceived.
[Obs.]
The most expert gamesters may sometimes
oversee
. Fuller.
Your partiality to me is much
overseen
, if you think me fit to correct your Latin. Walpole.
Webster 1828 Edition
Oversee
OVERSEE'
, v.t.1.
To superintend; to overlook, implying care.2.
To pass unheeded; to omit; to neglect. [Not used.]Definition 2024
oversee
oversee
English
Verb
oversee (third-person singular simple present oversees, present participle overseeing, simple past oversaw, past participle overseen) (transitive)
- (literally) To survey, look at something in a wide angle.
- (figuratively) To supervise, guide, review or direct the actions of a person or group.
- It is congress's duty to oversee the spending of federal funds.
- To inspect, examine
- Gamekeepers oversee a hunting ground to see to the wildlife's welfare and look for poachers.
- (obsolete) To fail to see; to overlook, ignore.
- 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, II.ix:
- Thereat the Elfe did blush in priuitee, / And turnd his face away; but she the same / Dissembled faire, and faynd to ouersee.
- 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, II.ix:
- To observe secretly or unintentionally.
Derived terms
Translations
to survey, look at something in a wide angle
to supervise, guide, review or direct the actions of a person or group
|
to inspect, examine
|
to see secretly or unintentionally