One way to hold overpower is to picture two forces pressing against each other, with one of them so much stronger that the other can no longer hold its ground. Whatever was holding on gives way: a person's arms, your own calm, a gentle flavour sitting in a dish. The over- part is the stronger side going straight past the line the weaker side could defend.
From the word’s history
Wiktionary's etymology tree gives over- (from Old English ofer-) plus power (through Middle English power, Old French pooir). The two parts read straight into the modern word: power that goes over what the other side can hold.
Wiktionary 的字源資料把這個字拆成 over-（古英語 ofer-）加上 power（經中古英語 power、古法語 pooir）。這兩塊拼起來剛好就是今天的意思：力量大到越過對方擋得住的範圍。
Wiktionary entry for overpower, etymology tree (kaikki:3f6f69a190036ae4:1057904454)
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