from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Overtake \O`ver*take"\, v. t. [imp. {Overtook}; p. p.
{Overtaken}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Overtaking}.]
[1913 Webster]
1. To come up with in a race, pursuit, progress, or motion;
also, to catch up with and move ahead of.
[1913 Webster +PJC]
Follow after the men; and when thou dost overtake
them, say . . . Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for
good. --Gen. xliv.
4.
[1913 Webster]
He had him overtaken in his flight. --Spenser.
[1913 Webster]
2. Hence: To surpass in production, achievement, etc.; as,
although out of school for half a year due to illness, the
student returned and overtook all the others to finish as
valedictorian.
[PJC]
3. To come upon from behind; to discover; to surprise; to
capture; to overcome.
[1913 Webster]
If a man be overtaken in a fault. --Gal. vi. 1
[1913 Webster]
I shall see
The winged vengeance overtake such children. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
4. Hence, figuratively, in the past participle (overtaken),
drunken. [Obs.] --Holland.
[1913 Webster]
5. To frustrate or render impossible or irrelevant; -- used
mostly of plans, and commonly in the phrase overtaken by
events; as, their careful marketing plan was overtaken by
events.
[PJC]