English

Preposition

overthwart

1. (archaic, Britain dialect) From one side to the other of; across.
   • 1903, A. W. Pollard (ed.), Le Morte d'Arthur by Sir Thomas Malory (1485) , volume I, Bk. IV, chapter XXII:

     And when he came to the pavilions, he tied his horse unto a tree, and pulled out his sword naked in his hand, and went to them thereas they lay, and yet he thought it were shame to slay them sleeping, and laid the naked sword overthwart both their throats, and so took his horse and rode his way.

     • 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, chapter xxij, in Le Morte Darthur, book IV:

     And whanne he came to the pauelions / he tayed his hors vnto a tree / and pulled oute his swerd naked in his hand / and wente to them there as they lay / and yet he thought it were shame to slee them slepynge / and layd the naked swerd ouerthwart bothe their throtes / and soo tooke his hors and rode his awaye

   • 1663, Samuel Butler, Hudibras, part 1, canto 1

     For when a giant's slain in fight, / And mow'd o'erthwart, or cleft downright, / It is a heavy case, no doubt, / A man should have his brains beat out […]

   • John Milton (1608-1674)

     Huge trees overthwart one another.

Translations

Adjective

overthwart ‎(comparative more overthwart, superlative most overthwart)

1. Having a transverse position; placed or situated across; hence, opposite.
   • Dryden

     Our overthwart neighbours.

2. Crossing in kind or disposition; perverse; adverse; opposing.
   • Clarendon

     Overthwart humour.

Noun

overthwart

1. (obsolete) That which is overthwart; an adverse circumstance; opposition.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Surrey to this entry?)