sur|charge

sur|charge «noun. SUR _CHAHRJ; verb. sur CHAHRJ», noun, verb, -charged, -charg|ing.

–n.

1. an additional charge; extra charge: »

The express company made a surcharge for delivering the trunk outside of the city limits.

2. an additional mark printed on a postage stamp as to change its value or date.

3. a stamp bearing such a mark.

4. Figurative. an additional or excessive load, burden, or supply: »

The surcharge of the learned, might in time be drawn off to recruit the laboring class of citizens (Thomas Jefferson).

5. the act of showing an omission in an account.

6. a statement showing such an omission.

╂[< French surcharge < Old French surcharger; see the verb]

–v.t.

1. to charge extra.

2. to overcharge.

3. Figurative. to overload; overburden; oppress; overwhelm: »

The widow's heart was surcharged with grief.

4. to put an additional and usually excessive physical burden or weight upon; weigh down.

5. to print a surcharge on (a postage stamp).

6. to show an omission in (an account) which the accounting party should have charged himself with.

╂[< Middle French, Old French surcharger < sur- over + charger to charge, load down < Late Latin carricāre to load < carrus load, wagon. Compare etym. under car. (Cf. ↑car)]