Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • To draw a line over (writing): the opposite of underline.
  • In manuscript or printed matter, to place a translation over each line.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A line drawn over text or a repeating decimal.
  • verb To draw a line over or above text.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

over- +‎ line, by analogy with underline.

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Examples

Comments

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  • "An overline, overscore, or overbar, is a typographical feature of a horizontal line drawn immediately above the text. In mathematical notation, an overline has been used for a long time as a vinculum, a way of showing that certain symbols belong together. The original use in Ancient Greek was to indicate compositions of Greek letters as Greek numerals. In Latin it indicates Roman numerals multiplied by a thousand and it forms medieval abbreviations (sigla)."

    -- https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Overline&oldid=844031262

    July 27, 2018