† overˈflee, v. Obs.
[OE. oferfléon to flee over, also for *oferfléoᵹan to fly over: see overfly, and cf. flee, fly v.]
1. a. intr. To flee over; to escape. b. trans. To escape from, flee.
| Beowulf 2525 Nelle ic beorᵹes weard ofer fleon fotes trem. c 1330 Owayn Miles 46 The child that was y-born to night Er the soule be hider y-dight The pain schal ouer fle. 1382 Wyclif 2 Kings xxv. 11 The thorȝ fleers, that ouerflowen [1388 hadden fled ouer] to the kyng of Babiloyn. |
2. [In sense of fly v.] To fly over.
| c 1000 ælfric Gram. xlvii. (Z.) 276 Superuolo, ic oferfleo. 1382 Wyclif Wisd. v. 11 As a brid that ouerfleth [1388 flieth ouer] in the eir. |
3. = overfly v. 3, q.v.