[1570–80; ‹ L ‹ Gk: transposition, lit., overstepping, deriv. of neut. of hyperbatós, equiv. to hyper- hyper- + ba- (s. of baínein to walk, step) + -tos verbal adj. suffix; cf. basis]This word is first recorded in the period 1570–80. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: agent, assimilate, cartridge, deadhead, snaghyper- is a prefix appearing in loanwords from Greek, where it meant “over,” usually implyingexcess or exaggeration (hyperbole). On this model, hyper- is used, especially as opposed to hypo-, in the formation of compound words (hyperthyroid). Other words that use the affix hyper- include: hyperbaric, hypercorrection, hyperkinesia, hyperopia, hyperventilation