Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Overtake \O`ver*take"\, v. t. [imp. {Overtook}; p. p.
   {Overtaken}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Overtaking}.]
   1. To come up with in a course, pursuit, progress, or motion;
      to catch up with.

            Follow after the men; and when thou dost overtake
            them, say . . . Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for
            good.                                 --Gen. xliv.
                                                  4.

            He had him overtaken in his flight.   --Spenser.

   2. To come upon from behind; to discover; to surprise; to
      capture; to overcome.

            If a man be overtaken in a fault.     --Gal. vi. 1

            I shall see The winged vengeance overtake such
            children.                             --Shak.

   3. Hence, figuratively, in the past participle (overtaken),
      drunken. [Obs.] --Holland.

Source : WordNet®

overtake
     v 1: catch up with and possibly overtake; "The Rolls Royce caught
          us near the exit ramp" [syn: {catch}, {catch up with}]
     2: travel past; "The sports car passed all the trucks" [syn: {pass},
         {overhaul}]
     3: overcome, as with emotions or perceptual stimuli [syn: {overwhelm},
         {overpower}, {sweep over}, {whelm}, {overcome}]
     [also: {overtook}, {overtaken}]

overtook
     See {overtake}