A vista or point that gives a view down toward something else.
1980,Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (N.R.A.), General Management Plan:
Normally a visitor does not participate in one activity to the exclusion of others. One main activity, such as swimming, will be supplemented by other activities and use of other facilities, such as picnicking, hiking, stopping at anoverlook, and so forth.
[…] I took my Gun, and went on Shore, climbing up upon a Hill, which seem’d toover-look that Point, where I saw the full Extent of it, and resolv’d to venture.
1946 July and August, K. Westcott Jones, “Isle of Wight Central Railway—2”, inRailway Magazine, page244:
Swinging sharply westwards, it emerges on to the Undercliff,overlooking the English Channel. St. Lawrence Station is very prettily situated, high cliffs on the left, and the lush vegetation of the Undercliff sloping down to the sea on the right.
The place had been already searched and emptied. In the bar I afterwards found some biscuits and sandwiches that had beenoverlooked.
1957 November, J. Spencer Gilks, “Centenary of the Bridport Branch”, inRailway Magazine, page747:
It was obvious to the inhabitants of the small coastal town of Bridport that in the midst of these squabbles their need for a railway was going to beoverlooked, and they decided to take the matter into their own hands.
Topretend not to havenoticed (something, especially a mistake orflaw); to pass over (something) without censure or punishment.
1615,Joseph Hall,Contemplations vpon the Principal Passages of the Holie Historie, London: Nathanael Butter and William Butler, Volume 3, “Ehud andEglon,” p. 48,[5]
Euery circumstance is full of improbabilities: Faith euermoreouerlookes the difficulties of the way, & bends her eyes onely to the certainty of the end.
Tho’ Miss Bridget was a Woman of the greatest Delicacy of Taste; yet such were the Charms of the Captain’s Conversation, that she totallyoverlooked the Defects of his Person.
1815 December (indicated as1816), [Jane Austen], chapter 13, inEmma:[…], volume(please specify |volume=I to III), London:[…][Charles Roworth and James Moyes] forJohn Murray,→OCLC:
“Mr. Elton’s manners are not perfect,” replied Emma; “but where there is a wish to please, one ought tooverlook, and one doesoverlook a great deal.”
It also means that when a right-wing Jewish group such as the ZOA chooses tooverlook Bannon’s well-documented links to anti-Semitic white nationalists, it puts itself on a moral par with J.V.P. Bannon is the man who expressly called Breitbart News “the platform for the alt-right,” knowing full-well the toxic range of opinion encompassed by the term.
Tolook down upon from above or from a higher location.
The way led sandily along the crest of a wooded amphitheatre, with less stress on the prospect waterward than might have been expected. Cope was not allowed, indeed, tooverlook the vague horizon where, through the pine groves, the blue of sky and of sea blended into one; but, under Medora Phillips’ guidance, his eyes were mostly turned inland.
1590,T[homas] L[odge], “Sonnetto”, inRosalynde. Euphues Golden Legacie:[…], London:[…] Thomas Orwin for T. G[ubbin] and John Busbie,→OCLC; republished[Glasgow]:[[…] Hunterian Club],[1876],→OCLC, folio 60, recto,page127:
Ganimede like a prettie Page waited on his MiſtreſſeAliena, andouerlookt that al was in a readineſſe againſt the Bridegroome ſhoulde come.
His sole child, my lord, and bequeathed to myoverlooking.
1677,Hannah Woolley,The Compleat Servant-Maid[9], London: T. Passinger, page63:
Be careful inoverlooking inferiour servants, that they waste nothing which belongs to your Master and Mistress.
1755,William Gilpin,The Life ofHugh Latimer, Bishop of Worcester[10], London: John & James Rivington, Section 4, p. 59:
Inoverlooking the clergy of his diocese, which he thought the chief branch of the episcopal office, exciting in them a zeal for religion, and obliging them at least to a legal performance of their duty, he was uncommonly active, warm, and resolute.
1606,Henry Peacham,The Art of Drawing with the Pen[11], London: William Jones, Book 1, Chapter 7, p. 20:
[…] you had need cause the party whome you will drawe to sit[…] without stirring or altering the mouth were it neuer so little: wherefore you shall I beleeue find (a mans face) aboue all other creaturs the most troublesome vnto you: for either they will smile, beouerlooking your hand, or setting their countenances to seeme gratious and comely, giue you choyse of twentie seuerall faces.
1724,Aaron Hill,The Plain Dealer, No. 33, 13 July, 1724,The Plain Dealer, London: S. Richardson and A. Wilde, 1730, p. 269,[12]
I lean’d back in my Chair, andoverlook’d what he was doing.—But, as if the young Rogue had had Eyes in his Elbows, he broke off what he had begun, and writ, thus, in a new Place.—If an impertinent Old Fellow, that sits by me, did notoverlook what I am writing, I should have told you a pleasant Secret—
1839,J. Sheridan Le Fanu, “Strange Event in the Life of Schalken the Painter” inThe Watcher and Other Weird Stories, London: Downey, 1894, p. 133,[13]
The artist turned sharply round, and now for the first time became aware that his labours had beenoverlooked by a stranger.
And therefore I trust thou vvylt accept it as it is, specially considering, that I neither had leysure, nor quietnesse at the dooing of it, neither after the dooing had euer any tyme toouerlooke it, but vvas driuen to deliuer it to the Printer, as I fyrst vvrote it[…]
Now when he hadouerlooked his armie ouer euerie side, he paused awhile, and after with a lowd voice and bold spirit spake to his companions these, or the like words following.
1602,Thomas Lodge (translator),The Famous and Memorable Workes ofIosephus, London: G. Bishopet al., Book 5, Chapter 2, p. 109,[16]
[…] this was one of those spies whichMoses sent toouerlooke the land of Chanaan.
1752,Arthur Murphy,The Gray’s Inn Journal No. 21, London: P. Vaillant, 1756, p. 138,[17]
As the Meanness of my Education had hindered me from knowing any Thing of Law Affairs, I got my two Companions tooverlook the Mortgage Deed, and with their Advice signed it[…]
Portia: […]Beshrew your eyes, They haveo'erlook'd me and divided me; One half of me is yours, the other half yours,— Mine own, I would say; but if mine, then yours, And so all yours![…]
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