from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Overlook \O`ver*look"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Overlooked}; p. pr.
& vb. n. {Overlooking}.]
1. To look down upon from a place that is over or above; to
look over or view from a higher position; to be situated
above, so as to command a view of; as, to overlook a
valley from a hill; a hotel room that overlooks the
marketplace. "The pile o'erlooked the town." --Dryden.
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[Titan] with burning eye did hotly overlook them.
--Shak.
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2. Hence: To supervise; to watch over; sometimes, to observe
secretly; as, to overlook a gang of laborers; to overlook
one who is writing a letter.
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3. To inspect; to examine; to look over carefully or
repeatedly. "Overlook this pedigree." --Shak.
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The time and care that are required
To overlook and file and polish well. --Roscommon.
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4. To look upon with an evil eye; to bewitch by looking upon;
to fascinate. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] --Shak.
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If you trouble me I will overlook you, and then your
pigs will die. --C. Kingsley.
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5. To look over and beyond (anything) without seeing it; to
miss or omit in looking; to fail to notice; to fail to
observe; as, to overlook a mistake in addition; to
overlook a missing bolt.
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6. Hence: To refrain from bestowing notice or attention upon;
to disregard or deliberately ignore; to pass over without
censure or punishment; to excuse or pardon (a fault,
error, or misdeed).
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The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked.
--Acts xvii.
30 (Rev. Ver.
)
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They overlook truth in the judgments they pass.
--Atterbury.
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The pardoning and overlooking of faults. --Addison.
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