overpartedadj.
/ˌəʊvəˈpɑːtᵻd/, U.S. /ˌoʊvərˈpɑrdəd/ Having too difficult a part, or too many parts, to perform. Also in extended use.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > drama > actor > [adjective] > playing (type of) part
overparted1598
society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > drama > acting > [adjective] > acted > having too difficult a part or too many parts
overparted1598
society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > drama > actor > [adjective] > cast, type-cast, or miscast
parted1612
under-parted1890
overparted1896
type-cast1946
1598 W. Shakespeare Love's Labour's Lost v. ii. 579 He is a marueylous good neighbour fayth, and a very good Bowler: but for Alisander, alas you see how tis a little oreparted. View more context for this quotation
1631 B. Jonson Bartholmew Fayre iii. iv. 38 in Wks. II How now, Numps! almost tir'd i' your Protectorship? ouerparted? ouerparted?
1896 Nation (N.Y.) 16 July 56/2 Viewed in comparison with the magnitude of the results, he is distinctly overparted.
1896 G. B. Shaw How to become Musical Critic (1960) 240 As Siegmund the Unlucky he was quite overparted.
1959 Times 19 Nov. 16/2 Mr. William McAlpine seemed vocally over-parted as Boris.
1975 Bookseller 26 July 315/1 Seemed rather over-parted as the Sunday Telegraph lead reviewer.
2000 Opera Now Jan. 66/3 Vargas sounds in places a touch over-parted, as if one or two of these roles are for the moment at least on the heavy side for him.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2004; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1598