1591 R. Percyvall Bibliotheca Hispanica Dict. at Alcance Ouertaking, obteining, pursuing, reaching.

1607 T. Tomkis Lingua ii. v. l. 2 I doubt 'tis in vaine to runne, by this they are all past ouer-taking.

a1643 S. Godolphin Poems (1931) 26 Who is hee soe inward blind as not to see that overtaking goinge by, Doeth cleerely shew wher odds doeth lie.

1695 W. Congreve Love for Love iv. i. 74 Security is an insipid thing, and the overtaking and possessing of a Wish, discovers the Folly of the Chase.

1793 R. Burns Let. 21 Mar. (2003) II. 186 If there is any miscreant whom you hate,..the ill-run of the chances shall so be against you, that in the overtakings, turnings, and jostlings of life..eternally comes the wretch upon you.

1797 C. Lloyd Woodman in Nugæ Canoræ (1819) 36 Might ever his breast's irresistible throe To the o'ertakings of pleasure invite.

1850 H. F. Gould New Poems 21 Haste!—the precious, rosy moments Flee beyond o'ertaking.

1857 Chambers's Information for People (new ed.) I. 413/2 The radius [of a wheel] should on no account be smaller than this, in order that the engine-drivers may have a clear look-out a-head, and so prevent collisions and overtakings on the road.

1930 S. Hoffenstein Year in, you're Out 60 This is the world's peak; This is the hilltop of the human climb; This is the overtaking of swift Time.

1966 T. Wisdom High-performance Driving xi. 111 One is frustrated on a motor~way by the driver ahead in the ‘fast’ lane (if only he appreciated that it is the overtaking lane).

1992 Autosport 23 Apr. 48/3 The Sunny GTiR is..an absolute pussycat around town, with just enough performance to make overtaking safe and enjoyable on the open road.

1694 E. Settle Ambitious Slave v. 45 If overtaking Destiny Has dealt thee that hard Lot that does not please thee, Remember King thy Ruine is no more Than thy Desert.

1743 A. Hill Fanciad v. 42 Then start they, half awake! stare, stamp, and rail; Void and tempestuous, as th' o'ertaking Gale!

1817 S. T. Coleridge Anc. Mariner (rev. ed.) i, in Sibylline Leaves 5 He struck with his o'ertaking wings.

1846 R. Browning Luria ii, in Bells & Pomegranates No. VIII 9/1 The overtaking night brings Florence' praise.

1880 R. G. Marsden Treat. Law Collisions at Sea vi. 187 Article 20 is express as to the duty of an overtaking sailing-ship to keep out of the way.

1897 W. E. Norris Clarissa Furiosa xxxvii. 328 No more..than a spent fox can escape the overtaking hounds.

1925 Times 23 Sept. 9/2 He was on the wrong side of the road and did not hear the hooter of an overtaking motor-car.

1997 T. Hughes Tales from Ovid 217 The ship's pilot Seeing the overtaking squall behind him Puts out every inch of canvas To catch every breath and escape it.