Word of the Day
Word of the Day
Word of the Day
Overdetermined
48 seconds Posted Aug 8, 2023 at 9:00 am.
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Overdetermined is an adjective that means having many causes.

The Latin-derived English word ‘determine’ means ‘to identify something as a cause.’  When the prefix O-V-E-R is added, it means ‘an excess or exaggeration’ of causes. Something that has many causes is overdetermined. Example:

According to social scientists, reading ability is overdetermined. There is not one cause for it, but many.