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 ] | 
