overniceadj.
/ˌəʊvəˈnʌɪs/, U.S. /ˌoʊvərˈnaɪs/ Too nice, excessively nice (in various senses). Formerly: esp. too fastidious, scrupulous, or particular.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > good taste > refinement > fastidiousness > [adjective]
chisa700
estfula1000
esquaymous1303
squeamousc1325
overnicec1350
curiousc1380
dangerousc1386
delicatea1393
preciousc1395
nicec1400
skigc1400
over-delicatea1425
daintethc1430
ticklec1456
quaint1483
dauncha1500
pickinga1500
feat?1529
elegant?1533
queasy1545
fine1546
fine-fingered1549
fastidious?1555
fine-mouthed1559
chary1567
weamish1571
saucy1573
dainty1576
superfine1576
niced1577
overcurious1579
nicing1581
fineish1582
prick-me-dainty1583
daint1590
finical1592
tiptoe-nice1593
nice1594
nicking1598
choice1601
squeamish1608
marchpane1609
hypercritical1611
particular1616
finicking1661
overcritical1667
just so1696
penurious1703
fal-lal1747
ogertful1754
nackety1756
quiddling1789
pernickety1808
pershittie1808
taffety1814
hypercritic1820
faddy1824
finicky1825
meticulous1827
daintified1834
squeamy1838
picksome1855
choosey1862
picky1867
hyperaesthetic1879
persnickety1885
précieux1891
perskeet1897
tasty1905
Nice Nelly1922
perfectionist1942
snicketya1960
perfectionistic1968
c1350 (a1333) William of Shoreham Poems (1902) 109 Þys senne [sc. pride] hys ouer-nyce..Þe senne of meste malice Aȝeyns charyte.
c1450 Of Manners (Lamb. 853) in Babees Bk. (2002) i. 34 In companies be neuere to tale-wijs, Ne ouer myrie, ne ouer sadde, Lest in þi berynge men acounte þee ouer nyce.
?a1500 Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 7304 (MED) Ouer nise [nise is in a later hand. a1400 Gött. For nouþer er ȝe war ne wise, Bot for ȝour riches ouer lawe-lis; a1400 Fairf. proude of riches of grete pris; a1400 Trin. Cambr. for ȝoure richesse to heȝe ȝe rise].
1577 H. I. tr. H. Bullinger 50 Godlie Serm. II. iii. ix. sig. Nn.vjv/1 Their..ouerneece brauerie in gawdie apparaile.
1594 R. Wilson Coblers Prophesie sig. D3 Why gentle Venus I intreat yee be not ouernice, What thinke ye as the Prouerb goes that beggers haue no lice?
1640 R. Brathwait Ar't Asleepe Husband? 255 I have heard of some, who were so over-nice or gingerly precise in expressing their affections; as they would not admit so much favour as a faire or equall parliance.
1687 T. Shadwell tr. Juvenal Tenth Satyr Ded. sig. A ij These Nymphs though they are so over nice in words, may perhaps, be frank enough in their actions.
1749 H. Fielding Tom Jones V. xv. ix. 264 Who, though some over-nice Ladies will not be seen with her, is visited (as they term it) by the whole Town. View more context for this quotation
1789 T. Jefferson Let. 11 Jan. in Papers (1958) XIV. 430 Not over-nice in the choice of company.
1856 E. B. Browning Aurora Leigh viii. 351 Not being overnice to separate What's element from what's convention.
1896 Argosy Mar. 532/2 Tain't over nice out in the barnyard.
1951 R. Graves Poems & Satires 13 Though reproved as over-nice, Never sing the same song twice.
1990 L. Tuttle Skin of Soul 149 Eustacia thought Mildred was overnice in regard to their father.
Derivatives
ˌoverˈnicely adv. now rare
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > good taste > refinement > fastidiousness > [adverb]
over-delicately1357
preciouslyc1430
daintethlyc1440
pickedlya1528
finely1542
nicely1547
fastidiously?1555
daintily1561
curiously1573
sizely?1578
fine1579
overnicely1582
squeamishly1606
finically1659
just so1683
superfinely1693
hypercritically1715
meticulously1900
1582 S. Gosson Playes Confuted i. sig. B1v I thought it better..to draw ye sword that should knappe it a sunder at one stroke, then to seeke ouernicely or gingerly to vndoe it.
1700 W. Congreve Way of World i. i. 9 You don't take your Friend to be overnicely bred.
1875 A. Shiels Retribution 8 Just retribution is a debt Of honour..always to be promptly paid, Nor offsets over nicely made.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2004; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
<
adj.c1350